The former Volvo boss PG Gyllenhammar is dead, the family tells TT.
He was the most famous Volvo boss of all time.
– It is difficult to overestimate his importance to the business world, says Ulf Kristofferson, political commentator for TV4 Nyheterna.
Volvo boss and industry leader Pehr G Gyllenhammar turned 89. He became best known as the head of Volvo. During his time at the company, he worked actively to make Volvo a global player.
– He was an icon in business for many years as leader of the large flagship Volvo. But he was also a politician. Among other things, he sat on the Folkpartiet’s board during the 80s and was even considered as party leader after Ola Ullsten. At that time, there were very close ties between business and politics, especially in Gothenburg. Gyllenhammar could have great influence over politics because there were no walls in between, says Ulf Kristofferson.
– Volvo had such a strong position in Sweden at the time that then Finance Minister Gunnar Sträng coined the term: “What is good for Volvo is good for Sweden”, says Ulf Kristofferson.
Freethinker in business
Gyllenhammar was also a far-sighted leader, who changed the production method in the factories.
– PG Gyllenhammar was a free thinker in the business world who was not afraid to try new paths. He was immensely celebrated when he abolished the assembly line at Volvo’s Kalmar factory to break up the monotony of the workers. A bold move in many ways, says Jens B Nordström, political reporter TV4 Nyheterna.
Made sure the merger didn’t go through
Gyllenhammar also developed several collaborative projects, including a controversial but failed merger with Renault, which contributed to his departure from Volvo in 1994.
– He created large parts of the modern Volvo. At the same time, not all ideas survived. For every successful trade, there were just as many aborted ones. What Gyllenhammar mourned most was the planned merger with Renault, which also became his own exit from Volvo. He kneaded that many times in front of us reporters, says Jens B Nordström.
In April this year, his daughter Cecilia Gyllenhammar stated in Expressen that her father lived in a retirement home in Canada.
Gyllenhammar was CEO of AB Volvo between 1971 and 1983.
The text is updated
PG Gyllenhammar.
PG Gyllenhammar.
Photo: Claudio Bresciani / TT