As 4C Strategies enters a new period of expansion and development of the business, we take a closer look at the new composition of the Board of Directors at 4C, and ask three key questions to board members Louise Bagewitz, Lena Ridström and Christine Rankin who recently joined.
Meet our 3 newest members of the Board of Directors
4C Strategies’ new board members bring wide-ranging skillsets and knowhow from the digital and financial industries which will prove invaluable to 4C moving forward. Furthermore, they will provide the ideal complement to the existing board members’ domain knowledge within 4C’s business areas.
Louise Bagewitz – Board member since 2022
Louise brings with her valuable experience from the digital world, and in particular, companies that have shaken up their industries with ground-breaking innovations.Louise started her career at Klarna, the international payments provider, before moving onto Nobia, where she quickly rose to IT Director. She then went onto Scandinavian education tech company IST Group, before joining digital accounting and financing company Fortnox – organisations where she held the role of CEO & Business Area Director. Today, she is the CEO of Crowd Collective Group.
Hi Louise, what attracted you to joining the Board of 4C Strategies?
I have followed the company for a while and thought it looked exciting with many opportunities. With the current developments in the world around us it seems even more relevant. I also believe that the phase 4C is in right now is a good fit with my experience.
How can your experience help them moving forward?
I have always worked at the intersection between business and tech. I have experience of the software business and consulting, as well as a general tech background covering operations, data security, business continuity, development and IT management. My roles have often involved strategy and governance, which in combination with my experience from listed companies and investor relations, should be very useful.
Where do you expect them to be in five years’ time?
I find 4C to be a great company with a strong team in place, so I expect it to have developed according to plan, i.e. to have leveraged a lot more opportunities on the product and market side.
Lena Ridström – Board member since 2022
Lena offers a wealth of experience from the digital industry, where she has led and assisted in the development and transformation of market leading companies over the past 25 years.Lena’s experience includes everything from Sales Director at IFS Sweden, to CEO of the Unitedlog Group, to CEO of Primelog. She also co-founded and sold a successful ERP implementation consulting company. Today, Lena is the CEO of IT consulting company Columbus Sweden, part of Columbus global, which is listed on the Copenhagen stock exchange. She is also a member of multiple company boards.
Hi Lena, what attracted you to joining the Board of 4C Strategies?
4C is a wonderful entrepreneurial company which has developed a very interesting niche in supporting companies with organisational resilience, led by a very committed and energetic team. The combination of attracting clients in the military, public and private sectors is intriguing.
How can your experience help them moving forward?
My experience in building and scaling SaaS companies in combination with developing professional consulting services, and finding the strategic sweet spot and execution – that demands good leadership. This is where I can contribute.
Where do you expect them to be in five years’ time?
We will be dominating the western world when it comes to organisational resilience and risk and crisis management. Sadly, I notice that world developments in 2022 show an even greater need for 4C’s services.
Christine Rankin – Board member since 2022
Christine has a long and distinguished career within finance which included 25 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she became a Partner.Christine has also held leading roles at Tele 2, Spotify, and Nasdaq, among others. She has been involved in multiple company listings. Christine is currently Senior Vice President Corporate Control at Veoneer. She is a board member and audit committee member of two further listed companies.
Hi Christine, what attracted you to joining the Board of 4C Strategies?
I was attracted by the interesting and relevant business areas that the company operates in.
How can your experience help them moving forward?
I believe I can add value to the company in the area of being a listed company and with what that entails.
Where do you expect them to be in five years’ time?
I believe the company will expand significantly, both geography and by expanding its customer groups.
Existing members of the 4C Board
Louise, Lena and Christine join our three existing Board members, Andreas Hedskog (founder), David Lidbetter and Mats Hjerpe.
Andreas Hedskog, Founder & Chairman of the Board – Board member since 2011
Andreas started 4C in his parent’s attic over 20 years ago, when he spotted a gap for digitalisation within military training and exercises. Since then, he’s been instrumental in the company’s growth as it has become a global entity with customers in over 100 countries. Andreas has held the positions of CEO, Head of Product, and Chairman of the Board. Much more can be read about Andreas and the growth of 4C in this interview with him on 4C’s 20TH anniversary.
David Lidbetter – Board member since 2012
David has been on the 4C board for close to a decade. Based in the UK, he has been involved with the company as it has expanded its operations significantly in Britain, crossing the divide from a software provider to the British Army, to a consultant and software provider to the military and the private and public sectors. His experience from companies such as the G4S Group and independent, private-equity led companies is invaluable.
Mats Hjerpe – Board member since 2016
Mats joined the 4C Board when the Priveq equity company became a minority shareholder in the company in December 2016. The substantial funds injected by the company were used to finance 4C’s successful expansion into the US market, which has seen them gain clients such as the US Army and the US Marine Corps, as well as major banks and communications companies. Mats’ experience from driving up the value of private companies before doing a successful exit is proving key to the success story of 4C.