Senior Vice President, Human Resources since 2007. Joined Swedish Match in 1994. Member of Group Management Team since 2007. Born 1959, educated at the Swedish Armed Forces Academies, rank of Major within the Swedish Armed Forces.
In addition to his 13 years at Swedish Match, Mats Adamson has an exciting background, with roots in Estonia and ten years as an officer in the Swedish Navy. At the beginning of 2007, he was appointed Senior Vice President Human Resources, Head of Group Human Resources and member of Group Management.
"It's the combination of people and business situations that makes Swedish Match such a fantastic company," says Mats.
6 Mar, 2007
How did you first come into contact with Swedish Match?
"I was headhunted in 1994 to join a cigarette operation in Estonia, which had just been acquired by Svenska Tobaks AB, one of the principal reasons being my fluency in the Estonian language. Three years later, I was offered the position of HR Manager for the part of Swedish Match that was later to become the North Europe Division, a move that I have never regretted," explains Mats.
You have now been employed by the company for more than 13 years. How do you remain motivated?
"It's mainly my colleagues and the business situation that make it such a pleasant company to work for. There's a welcoming, generous work climate within Swedish Match, characterized by people who genuinely offer to share their expertise and experience. The flat organization makes it easy to discuss matters with each other. In addition, we have an exciting portfolio of products, with major potential, plus the added advantage of being a well-managed and profitable company."
Can you describe a typical working week for yourself?
"One could say that typically a whole lot of unexpected things can arise during any one working week. Generally, I work on issues connected with the organization, remuneration, recruitment, management planning, the environment and social responsibility. I have daily contact with divisional managers, heads of staff functions, and the CEO. I also maintain ongoing contact with our divisional HR departments. Long-term, my most important duty is to ensure that Human Resources supports our business strategies."
Can you describe your role in Group Management?
"My role is to ensure that the company´s operations in general, and the part played by Human Resources, function as efficiently as possible. From the viewpoint of HR, this means that I have to ensure that we have an effective organization consisting of highly motivated and competent people that is capable of meeting each business situation in an optimal manner."
Do you feel that you are significantly affected by the social debate on tobacco?
"Yes, we are. This is an ongoing debate, which remains relatively active depending on which issues are currently topical. An active debate provides us with opportunities to put forward our own views on the company´s products, which in itself is positive."
If you could present one area in which Swedish Match excels, what would that be?
"Since we handle our business very skillfully and are a successful company, we are also a highly attractive employer. This gives us opportunities to recruit and retain competent employees. Employees are one of Swedish Match´s principal assets and I feel extraordinarily privileged to work with personnel matters at a global level. We´re also accomplished when it comes to mixing internal and external recruitment, and at making the organizational changes necessary to ensure that we always have the potential to perform optimally. In an increasingly mobile and changeable world, it is tremendously important to ensure that this type of flexibility exists in an organization," Mats underlines.
What should you strive to improve?
"We can always be better, and we work continuously to evaluate our performance in order to improve ourselves. For Human Resources, this means, for example, that we strive to develop and improve our personnel processes, so that everything we do has a positive effect on our business, at the same time as we develop the skills of our personnel."
What do you believe characterizes good leadership?
"For me, good leadership involves working with management by objectives, which means that you agree what has to be done and deadlines for this, but also entails that employees are given the freedom to choose how best their goals can be achieved. I believe in giving employees the scope to plan and take their own responsibility, while remaining available to provide support as needed," explains Mats.
Can you identify your personal driving force at work?
"I appreciate being able to act independently and being responsible for my own actions, but I also like working as part of a team that is intent on jointly developing our own business. It is highly satisfying being in a position to conclude something that we have all worked hard to achieve and to feel proud of our actions. I am also driven by seeing other people grow, seeing that they are motivated and enjoy performing well. That gives me energy!"
What do you believe will be the greatest challenge for Swedish Match in the coming year?
"We have been working to improve our efficiency for some time. Now, our biggest challenge will be to achieve growth by both organic means and through acquisitions. To make this come about we need motivated and competent personnel, at management level and throughout the organization," says Mats in conclusion.