Bo Andersson

Bo Inge Andersson (born in Falkenberg, Sweden, October 16, 1955) is a Swedish soldier, businessman and diplomat. He grew up in the south of Sweden and entered the Swedish Armed Forces at the age of 19. He graduated from the Military Academy in Sweden. His last position in the Swedish armed forces was as a Major. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Stockholm University and completed the senior management program at Harvard University in 1999.

Bo Andersson began his career with GM in 1987 as a manager with Saab. After holding various leadership positions, he was appointed vice president of purchasing for Saab in 1990. In August 1993, Andersson transitioned from Saab to GM as the executive director of the worldwide purchasing electrical commodity group. In October 1994, he was appointed executive director for the chemical commodity group. After two senior management assignments, he was promoted to vice president of purchasing for General Motors Europe in March 1997. In 1999, he returned to GM in North America as the executive in charge for worldwide purchasing.

Andersson was promoted to GM Group vice president of global purchasing and supply chain on April 1, 2007. Prior to this assignment, he was vice president of worldwide purchasing and OTD from 2001 to 2007. He was responsible for GM's global purchasing, supplier quality, logistics, order fulfillment, and supply operations.

He was a member of GM's Automotive Strategy Board, Automotive Product Board, and North America Strategy Board. He was also the chairperson for the Michigan Minority Business Development Council and a member of the CPO Agenda editorial advisory board. CPO Agenda is a London-based publication that covers purchasing and supply chain issues. In 2009 Andersson was appointed President/CEO of GAZ Group.

Andersson, President/CEO of GAZ Group, received the Best Market Newcomer 2009 award at the 13th International Russian Automotive Forum organized by Adam Smith Institute. The head of GAZ Group since July 2009, he was recognized as the best in the Best Market Newcomer category for improvements achieved in business processes, production technologies and management practices of GAZ Group, as well as for the launch of the upgraded commercial vehicle GAZelle-BUSINESS. The vote in this category was held by Adam Smith Institute among the top managers of Russia’s automotive market prior to the forum.

In March 2011 Bo Andersson received the Automotive Executive of the Year Award at the International Russian Automotive Forum for such achievements as renewal of GAZ Group model range, establishment of cooperation with foreign automakers and positive financial results of the company in 2010. In September 2011 Bo Andersson was named a Eurostar of automotive industry in the emerging market category by the Automotive News Europe Magazine. The Eurostars Awards ceremony is held annually by the Automotive News Europe Magazine to select the most successful leaders of the European automotive industry.

On February 27, 2012 Autoliv- the global leader in automotive safety systems- elected Bo Andersson as the new member to its Board of Directors. GAZ Group is a customer of Autoliv. Autoliv had approximately $3.3 million in total sales to GAZ in 2011, which was 0.04% of the company’s turnover and 0.08% of GAZ’s sales. Autoliv’s Board has determined Bo Andersson is “independent” according to the New York Stock Exchanges’ rules and regulations.

On September 14, 2012, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in the Russian Federation appointed Bo Andersson as the Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Sweden for Nizhny Novgorod, with the consular district including the Nizhny Novgorod region. Andersson is the first Honorary Consul of Sweden who is not a diplomatic official. The purpose of establishing the position of Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Sweden for Nizhny Novgorod is to provide assistance to the positive dynamics of future trade and economic exchange between Sweden and the Nizhny Novgorod region. As Honorary Consul Andersson will also perform the important function of resolution of consular and other issues.