Björn Savén


Bjorn Saven is a Swedish industrialist and investor. He is the founder and chief executive of IK investment Partners a leading European private equity firm focused on acquisitions across the Nordics, Benelux, Germany and France, with circa €10 billion funds raised since 1988.

Background

Saven was born in Stockholm. His father headed a constructions materials company. He and his wife Inger have three adult children.

Education

Saven holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Stockholm School of Economics 1972 and an MBA from Harvard University 1976.

Career

Prior to founding IK Investment Partners in 1988 Bjorn Saven held various positions at the American oil company Gulf Oil 1972-1974 as well as the Swedish office and retail products group Esselte 1976-1988.
At IK Investment Partners, Bjorn Saven pioneered Private Equity investments in the Nordics and Continental Europe. He raised the first Private Equity fund in the Northern Europe, focusing mainly on investments in, and development of, mid-cap companies with a hands-on operating approach of working with portfolio businesses. He served as Chief Executive from 1989-2008 and Executive Chairman 2008 – 2011 and Chairman as from 2011. 
Bjorn Saven has also served as a non-executive director at the Nordic bank Nordea, Swedish industrial group Alfa Laval, Swedish energy group Vattenfall AB, Norwegian consumer goods group Orkla ASA, and Finnish industrial cranes manufacturer Konecranes Oyj.
He was chairman of the for five years and is currently deputy Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the United Kingdom. He is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences where he served as deputy chairman 20011-2013.

Honours