Another Award for Zlatan Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Sweden’s illustrious soccer star, has won the International Swede of the Year Award (Årets Svensk i Världen). The award founded in 1988 is handed out by the Society for Expatriate Swedes (Föreningen Svenskar i Världen) in recognition of
Swedes who have made remarkable contributions abroad. Zlatan has played professionally in four different countries and is currently striker for the prestigious Paris SaintGermain Football Club earning an annual salary of a staggering 14 million euros ($18.6 million), which makes him the second highest-paid footballer in the world. Of Croatian and Bosnian parents, Zlatan has become a beloved role model in Sweden inspiring legions of young fans to join the sport. He joins last year’s winner, Hans Rosling, as well as past awardees which include writer Astrid Lindgren, golfer Annika Sörenstam and several Abba members.
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July/August 2013 8
[Swedes] in the News Ingvar Kamprad Steps Down
He will retain his position on the foundation, which owns the IKEA Group and “...will continue to spend time in the stores and in the factories to work with people and help achieve constant improvement.” Kockarnas Kock 2013
IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad recently stepped down from the board of holding company, Inter Ikea Group, which is responsible for IKEA’s brand and franchising operations. Taking over the reins is Ingvar Kamprad’s son, Mathias, who will assume chairmanship of the board
43 year-old Mathias Kamprad has spent five years with IKEA of Sweden, nine years with Retail, four years with the Habitat furnishing chain and two years as assistant to Ingvar Kamprad.
and insists that, “... it is business as usual”. The leadership changes come after a blockbuster year for IKEA which recorded a 9.5% jump in sales, posting a profit of $4.24 billion. But Ingvar is by no means leaving the company he started.
För 21:e året i rad koras nu Kockarnas kock – ett pris som slår extra högt då det är drygt 100 av Sveriges bästa kockar som röstar. Det här året får vi se ett tronskifte. Efter åtta år som vinnare får Mathias Dahlgren lämna över förstaplatsen till Björn Frantzén – men det var inte många röster som skiljde dem åt – målfotot fick avgöra. Här kommer de första 5 på listan. Förra årets placering inom parentes. 1. Björn Frantzén Frantzén, Stockholm (2) 2. Mathias Dahlgren Mathias Dahlgren, Stockholm (1) 3. Magnus Nilsson Fäviken Magasinet, Järpen (3) 4. Sayan Isaksson Esperanto, Stockholm (12) 5. Magnus Ek Oaxen Krog & Slip, Stockholm (6)
A Swedish Idol for the States Following a disappointing season with viewership down 40%, American Idol’s parent companies (Fox, 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media) have appointed a Swede, Pers Blankens, as the show’s executive producer. The new hire is coming at a time of incredible transformation
for the American version of the iconic singing talent show which has already seen the firing of its two former producers, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, as well as the departure of all of the show’s judges. “Pers is a creative and experienced executive who has been the showrunner on the blockbuster Swedish ‘Idol’ for more than five seasons”, explains Fremantle Media executive, Trish Kinane, “He brings the talent and energy needed to keep ‘American Idol’ strong.” Blankens produced “Idol” in Sweden from 2007-2011. Under Blanken’s leadership, the Swedish “Idol” had a 51% share of total viewers and was the top show among young audiences.
