Swedish forestry chief to chair AP2

The Swedish government has named the managing director of Sweden’s forestry industry association, Marie S. Arwidson, as the new chairman of SEK204.3bn (€21.1bn) second national pension fund Andra AP-fonden (AP2).

Arwidson is head of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation, Skogsindustrierna, the trade and employers’ organisation for the pulp, paper and wood mechanical industries. She takes over from Gunnar Larsson, who has been chairman since 2000.

The appointment is the latest top level change at the fund, with new chief investment officer Hans Fahlintaking up his role last month following the resignation of predecessor Johan Held. Jeanette Hauffe, former chief executive at Skandia Fonder, was also named to AP2’s board. Former Nordea group treasury head Jakob Grinbaum joins the board at fellow buffer fund AP4.

AP2 is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and the Carbon Disclosure Project. A leading governance advocate, it’s amongst the funds putting pressure on US mining firm Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold over its controversial Grasberg operation in Papua New Guinea. Government announcement, Swedish