Volvo Cars named Alexander Petrofski CTO and gave Anders Bell a platform role
The outgoing technology chief will lead a newly formed initiative defining how to scale the company's platform and digital technology, reporting to the chief executive.
Volvo Cars said on August 19 that Alexander Petrofski will join its executive management team as chief technology officer, succeeding Anders Bell. The change takes effect on September 1.
Bell is not leaving the company. Volvo Cars said he will take on a new responsibility leading a newly formed strategic startup initiative, defining opportunities to scale the platform and digital technology the company has developed, and that he will report to the chief executive.
Two further changes to the executive team were announced with the same effective date. Magnus Nilsson, currently head of the Ghent plant in Belgium, becomes chief manufacturing officer with responsibility for production and manufacturing engineering. Francesca Gamboni moves to a more focused role covering procurement and supply chain.
Håkan Samuelsson, the chief executive, said Bell “has played a pivotal part in advancing our technology and software to a frontrunner position, as seen by the successful EX60,” and described the company as entering a new phase built on that technological foundation. The company framed the wider reshuffle as preparing its leadership for what it called an increasingly regionalized world and a fast-transforming industry.
The changes were disclosed in a press release from Volvo Car AB (publ), which is listed in Stockholm. They follow Mercedes-Benz confirming on August 12 that its chief software officer, Magnus Östberg, is leaving after five years.