Swedish staffing firm Dedicare announced Krister Widström is resigning from his role as president and CEO of the group as of 17 September. Bård Kristiansen, CEO of Dedicare Norway, will take over as CEO and president.

Widström leaves the role of CEO and president, which he has held for seven years, on his own accord.

Kristiansen has been CEO of Dedicare Norway and part of Dedicare’s group management since 2017, as well as acting CEO of Dedicare Sweden since May this year. Previously, for a total of 14 years, Kristiansen held various leadership positions within care staffing.

Kristiansen takes up the position as president and CEO of Dedicare as of 17 September.

Dedicare’s board chairman Björn Örås said in a press release, “During Krister Widström’s seven years as president and CEO, Dedicare has grown strongly and had several successful years. The company has completed several acquisitions and has established itself in two new geographic markets and within the new business area life science. I would like to personally and on behalf of the entire board thank Krister for his important contribution as president and CEO and for a much-appreciated collaboration.”

Widström said, “It has been seven fantastic years and I feel very grateful to have been able to lead the Dedicare Group for so long. We staffing companies fulfil an important function in order to have a functioning supply of skills in welfare and I am proud of what Dedicare has achieved during these years. Together with the board, I have come to the conclusion that now is a good time for me to step aside, while at the same time I am available to support the company.”

Örås said, “Today we have a very strong team within Dedicare. This is manifested not least now, when we can recruit our new president and CEO internally. Bård has successfully built up and developed the Norwegian business with very good results, while at the same time he has contributed strongly to building the culture that has given Dedicare the award Norway’s best workplace by Great Place to Work for the past two years. In Bård Kristiansen, Dedicare gets a skilled and experienced leader who already has extensive knowledge of both the company and the industry’s conditions, which means that there will be a very safe and smooth transition to the CEO position.”

Kristiansen said, “I humbly look forward to my new role and to lead the group’s work in accordance with Dedicare’s established strategy in cooperation with all Dedicare’s employees. At the same time, I want to thank Krister for a good collaboration during the seven years that we have worked together.”

Lene Langås has appointed as the new CEO of Dedicare Norway. Lene Langås has been interim operational manager for the Norwegian operations since May this year and previously, since 2013, operational manager within Dedicare Norway’s nursing staffing.

Widström is set to be recommended as a new board member of the nomination committee ahead of the next Annual General Meeting.