Changes at Schaeffler within the framework of Ewellix integration: Fredrik Hesselberg appointed new Managing Director of Schaeffler in Sweden

• Fredrik Hesselberg appointed new Managing Director of Schaeffler in Sweden, marking a new chapter for the company in the region.
• In his capacity, he has a coordinating role for the entire Nordic region which includes the Nordic and the Baltic countries.
• Schaeffler to position itself as leading motion technology company also in North Europe. The merger with Ewellix plays an important role in this process.

Arlandastad | 13 June 2025 | Schaeffler, the Motion Technology Company, has in recent months undergone important changes in its northern European leadership, marking a new chapter for the company in the region. Fredrik Hesselberg has taken over as the new Managing Director for the region from Erik Askensjö, who left Schaeffler to pursue other career opportunities outside of the company. The company announces externally today this change at the helm of the Nordic organization which became operative at the beginning of the year.

Based in the Ewellix office in Gothenburg, Fredrik is a leader with extensive experience in the industry. He started his career at ThyssenKrupp in Sweden in 2005, where he held various leadership positions in the finance department before being appointed as the CEO of the Swedish subsidiary in 2010. Some years later he moved to Italy for a two-year tenure as an operational Board Member for the ThyssenKrupp Service Centers, focusing on restructuring activities. In December 2019, Fredrik joined Ewellix with the main task of supporting the set-up of the new company structure. Since then, he had various roles at Ewellix, including Head of Production in Germany and General Manager for the Nordic Region. After Ewellix acquisition, in 2024 Schaeffler appointed Fredrik Head of Sales for Linear Motion Europe; since May he is also working as the Head of Schaeffler Business Division Linear Motion in Europe, position that he holds additionally to his role of Managing Director of Schaeffler in Sweden, with coordinating role the entire Nordic region.

Schaeffler's Nordic Expansion through the Ewellix Merger

Schaeffler is transforming to become a leading Motion Technology Company, and the integration of Vitesco and Ewellix after their recent acquisitions play a vital role in this process. Ewellix activities are particularly important in the Nordics, given the company’s Swedish history and heritage with its global headquarters located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Schaeffler acquired Ewellix in 2022 and the integration work has been ongoing since then. After the merger, Schaeffler employs around 140 people in the 7 countries of the Nordics region, 60 of them coming from Ewellix. The aim of the merger is to be one strong team in the region, with one common goal: to become a leading Motion Technology Company, broadening the product portfolio and offering greater value to customers.

Fredrik Hesselberg explained: "The product portfolios originally coming from Schaeffler, Vitesco and Ewellix excellently complement each other, enabling us to offer a huge variety of solutions to existing and new customers. Joining forces will enable us to grow further in the Nordics as a Leading Motion Technology company, further focusing on quality and innovation. We will approach the market with greater force and leverage our collective strengths, unlocking our full potential in the Nordic and Baltic countries”.

Strategic Importance of the Nordics region

Nordic and the Baltic countries play a pivotal role in different important industrial sectors, boasting robust industries such as pulp and paper, mining, oil and gas, and wind energy. With the completion of Ewellix merger and the new leadership in place, Schaeffler expands its presence and commitment to further cultivating strong partnerships in the region.

“Northern Europe plays a special role within our subregion” said says Sascha Lechner, Head of Subregion UK, Benelux, North Europe, Middle East & Africa, who added: “There is untapped potential, not least in the industrial automation and off-road segments, and a great room for growth, now that we have a significantly larger product offering for our customers. Collaborative synergies with Ewellix will strengthen our efforts. I am pleased that Fredrik Hesselberg has taken over the new leadership in this important region, and look forward to seeing the progress under his guidance”, he ends.

About the Subregion

Schaeffler operates across eleven subregions, of which six are based in Europe, including the dynamic subregion UK, Benelux, North Europe, Middle East & Africa, overseeing more than 1,000 employees working across 26 locations in 11 countries. These countries represent a diverse mix of markets, cultures, and different segments and business opportunities that enrich the organization. Sascha Lechner, who joined Schaeffler in 1998, serves as the Head of this subregion additionally to his leadership role at Schaeffler Division Vehicle Lifetime Solutions for the entire Region Europe.