vORG map - 2
From Chicago to Uddeholm
Pernilla Melén is the CEO of the world-leading company Munkforssågar, but when she was having fun at the jazz clubs of Chicago there were no guarantees that she'd return to Sweden and take over the family company.
TEXT: PATRIK LAGERKVIST PHOTO: SEVERUS TENENBAUM
"We're the biggest and best," says Pernilla Melén with a glint in her eye. You can see she's almost a bit embarrassed about her self-assured but very justified statement.
She's proud to be able to manage and refine the company which Anders Hallberg, her grandfather, started in a little outhouse more than 60 years ago.
"While I was growing up, I didn't think it was all that exciting that our family company worked with saw blades. But you learn a lot about enterprise when you're an auditor, and now I think it's brilliant. Especially when you realise the benefits which customers derive from top quality products," says Melén.
We're sitting in Pernilla Melén's office. Anders Hallberg gazes down at us from a poster on the wall, and it feels almost as though he's keeping a watchful eye over the company.
Nowadays, Munkforssågar is a world leader in its industry and an important employer in a little place 60 kilometres north of Karlstad.
"My grandfather thought it was fantastic when I took over as CEO. He got to see that happen just before he passed away," says Pernilla.
Anders Hallberg showed that because he wanted it to be, his company could be the best in the world – and now his granddaughter has to manage his company and build on it.
"A sawblade is more than just a sawblade. We have to maintain that high quality when we grow."
The road to the top for this family company has been full of adventure. For a while, it looked as though she'd end up living in one of the biggest cities in the USA on a permanent basis.
"I worked at the Arthur Andersen auditing company in Malmö, and I was given the opportunity to travel to head office in Chicago. While I was there, I headed a team working with in-house software."
Pernilla and her husband Mats lived and worked in the USA from 1998 to 2000.
"We had an absolutely brilliant time. We went out to jazz clubs and all kinds of things."
Then their first child was born, and they felt more and more that they'd like to return to Sweden.
"When we surfed the Internet, we suddenly found a gorgeous house on the edge of a lake in Uddeholm that felt absolutely right for us.
So the bright lights of Chicago were swapped for the little town of Uddeholm.
"We were waiting for it all to backfire on us, but it hasn't as yet!" says Pernilla Melén.
What's the best thing about living in Värmland?
"The simplicity, and the fact that everything is close by. Sure, it's great to get away and enjoy the big city atmosphere now and again, but it's always nice to come home to peace and quiet."
