We lost another leader

One of the greatest Swedish entrepreneurs and business leaders, Percy Barnevik, has passed away. He was the great son of my hometown and an international business superstar. I met him many times & I write about how he inpired me, like many other young leaders – in my recently published leadership book, ’When Elephants Fly’.

Barnevik led the merger of the two long-term competitors and enemies Asea & Brown Boveri into ABB. He became at the age of 42 ABBs first CEO, & later Chairperson, making the company a global powerhouse.

The Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said in a statement, ’Percy Barnevik played a central role in the industrial successes of both Swedish & international business. Those who have worked with him testify to a strong belief in decentralization & delegation, in individual responsibility & individual ability, in technology and innovation ’.

He got his last name from a small village in Österlen, a stone’s throw from my parents’ home.

For the past fifteen years, Percy had dedicated himself to philanthropy as the driving force behind the charity Hand in Hand, where he was co-founder & its chief ambassador. He was especially concentrating his time on how to mentor & sponsor female entrepreneurs in emerging economies.

Percy Barnevik was a very special leader, mentor and person. R.I.P