Above Agency AB welcomes Filip Sauer as new CEO

The board of directors has appointed co-founder Filip Sauer as the new CEO of Above Agency. In his new role, Sauer will continue fulfilling the agency’s purpose; To Drive Positive Change and focus on the agency’s continued growth in Europe, the US, and Asia. As one of the founders and former member of the board, Sauer has been contributing to the development of the agency in various roles and positions. Until his appointment as CEO, he was leading Above’s Business Innovation unit working strategically with clients such as Scania, Stadler, and Clas Ohlson on their product and service portfolios.

Filip succeeds Claes Lundin who is stepping down from his current role as CEO to join the Board of Directors. As a newly appointed Board Member, Lundin will continue to actively work on the strategic development of Above, while also working closely with clients and projects.

Charlotte Boij, Chairman of the Board, states,

“Claes’ contribution over the years has been invaluable- he’s been an outstanding leader and we are thankful for all his contributions. But we understand the importance of his decision to shift his focus to family and are looking forward to seeing him continue to grow in his new role as a Director and Board member. With that said, we feel Filip Sauer is the natural choice to succeed Claes. He is someone who recognizes the strong culture within Above and understands the industry extremely well. His rich background as a creative, former CEO, and Board member make him the optimal candidate for the challenge. We look forward to seeing him taking the Agency to new heights!”

Filip Sauer reflects,

“Claes has really proven himself as a leader during his time as CEO and I am sincerely grateful to have worked closely with him. His endless energy and drive to move us forward have been remarkable, but what really sticks out is his ability to make people around him grow. He has set the bar high, inspiring!”

On what the future holds, Sauer continues,

“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead one of the world’s most interesting agencies. Our strong culture with insanely talented creatives, equally within design and tech, is what I believe sets Above apart. Over the last years, we have been established as one of the top agencies on an international level and I am committed to further strengthen that position, helping current and future clients grow their business with responsible innovation. Above lives at the intersection of digital and physical and we are geared to find human-centered solutions in a world that is accelerating its transition towards a more connected and circular economy. These are uncertain but interesting times, where adaptability and network will be key factors to success. I am really looking forward to working with our team, clients, and partners from my newly appointed position.”

Key facts & figures:

2019

— Above Agency AB has seen growth in both revenues by 5% and profit to 10% in 2019 from 2018.

— International commissions make up for 46% of revenue (as opposed to 24% the year prior)

— Above welcomes new clients: SONOS, Tata Industries, B&O, Google, Scania

2020

— Pre-COVID-19 quarterly targets are met in the quarters 1 & 2

— Leadership averts “permiteringar” and lay-offs of permanent staff by reinventing client partnerships and internal cross-disciplinary collaboration.

— Rapid shift of focus towards industries less affected by the COVID-19 crisis; MedTech, IoT, Mobility, Entertainment.