Tobias Byfeldt on his first months as CEO and the road ahead

For those who may not know you yet, could you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I was born and raised in Vänersborg, Sweden, where sports played a central role throughout my childhood. Ice hockey, in particular, taught me the value of teamwork, discipline and continuously striving to improve, lessons that have served me well throughout my professional career.

I hold a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology and have spent more than 25 years working in industry. I spent the first ten years of my career in the paper industry, followed by the past fifteen years in industrial automation. Technology, sales and leadership have been recurring themes throughout my career. I have extensive experience in leading and developing international industrial companies, with a strong focus on growth, profitability and customer value. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with product development, sales and business development, often in technology-driven organisations. What motivates me most is building strong teams and fostering a culture where people take ownership, grow professionally and deliver results together.

Today, I live in Kullavik with my wife Malin, our two young adult daughters, Tuva and Hedda, and our dog Enzo. Outside work, I enjoy staying active through running, skiing and golf. I also appreciate life by the sea and spending quality time with family and friends over good food and drinks.

You have been CEO of GARO since June. How would you summarise your first few months in the role?
My first few months have largely been about listening, getting to know the business and meeting employees, customers and partners. I have encountered a company with strong expertise, highly committed employees and a well-established brand. At the same time, I have gained a clear understanding of the opportunities ahead of us, particularly within Electrification, where I see significant potential to generate profitable growth over time.

How do you believe your previous experience can contribute to GARO's continued development?
I hope to contribute my experience of driving growth in evolving markets, leading continuous improvement initiatives and building strong corporate cultures. Long-term success requires clear priorities, close customer relationships and a strong focus on execution. My experience has taught me that companies combining technological leadership with a winning culture are the ones that achieve the best results over time.

How would you describe GARO's current market position and outlook?
GARO has a strong market position, a well-established brand and a long track record of developing safe and innovative products. We are well positioned to benefit from the ongoing electrification of society. I see particularly strong opportunities within Electrification to further strengthen our position by combining innovative products with a clear customer focus.

What are the most important challenges GARO needs to address going forward?
The market is evolving rapidly, and competition is intensifying. To succeed, we need to continue strengthening our competitiveness, improving profitability and ensuring that we invest in the right products and solutions. Within Electrification, this means maintaining a disciplined approach to product development and working even more closely with our customers and end users to understand their needs and develop solutions that make a real difference.

What do you see as GARO's greatest strengths and opportunities going forward?
Our greatest strengths are our people, our technical expertise, our customer relationships and our strong brand. At the same time, I see significant opportunities in electrification, energy optimisation and the charging infrastructure of the future. GARO has all the prerequisites for profitable growth by continuing to develop attractive products and creating even greater value for our customers.

Looking a few years ahead, what is your ambition for GARO, and where would you like to see the company positioned?
My ambition is for GARO to become a stronger, more profitable and more international company than it is today. We aim to be a leading player in our core business areas and the natural choice for customers investing in electrification and the energy solutions of the future. To achieve this, we need to combine innovation and customer focus with a strong performance-driven culture. In a few years' time, I want GARO to be recognised for delivering both industry-leading solutions and sustainable, profitable growth.