Core values
“Our core values characterize everything we do, from how we make decisions to how we act in meetings with people,” says Nina Hanses, Vice President Management Resources at Swedish Match.
“The core values were formulated at a management program at the end of the 1990s. Swedish Match employees regard these values as so self-evident that one could almost say they were part of the furniture. We have many employees who have worked for us for many years, which has a positive impact on the culture by ensuring that the values live on in a natural way and are passed on from one generation to the next.
The Group’s Code of Conduct is based on the core values, and compliance with the code is followed up annually. Swedish Match’s core values are:
- Communication
- Cooperation
- Trust
- Innovation
- Recognition
- Growth
Swedish Match has a performance-oriented culture, with performance-driven employees. Nina Hanses describes the Group as being international but Swedish at the same time; a large company that is simultaneously small. She emphasizes that Swedish Match focuses on the people within the organization rather than structures and processes, which results in a corporate culture that is informal while being professional.
“All of this is reflected in our core values. Growth is about our desire to develop high-performing people and give them challenges, which leads to the growth of both the employees and Swedish Match. Innovation means that all individuals can contribute to continuous improvement on the basis of their own capabilities. Trust means that Swedish Match believes that each employee will take his or her responsibility and act on the basis of what is best for the company,” Nina Hanses explains.
All of the core values are closely connected to each other. Cooperation is essential to the achievement of growth, and occasionally derives from a number of cross-divisional groupings within the Group. Communication is defined as an active, open and honest dialog, which is of vital importance in an international company with different cultures and languages. Recognition entails showing an interest in the employees and their achievements.
“While managers play a key role in efforts to keep the core values alive, all employees are responsible for maintaining a good climate within the organization,” says Nina Hanses in conclusion.
Read the entire definition of Swedish Match’s core values here.
Lennart Freeman Executive Vice President of Swedish Match and President of North America Division
Swedish Match is a global organization that respects the diversity of the cultures in the markets we serve. Although our cultures and customs may differ, our core values are the one thing that remains constant wherever we are and in any given business situation.
I am always impressed by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to our Vision Statement and Core Values, which are prominently displayed in our offices. Many new employees have mentioned that these are some of the reasons they joined Swedish Match.