Sweden’s AP7 Hires Head of Asset Management

Swedish pension giant AP7 has named Lena Fahlén, head of interest and currency trading at Handelsbanken Capital Markets, as its new head of asset management, effective in September. She will succeed CIO Ingrid Albinsson, who will leave after 12 years as both CIO and deputy CEO.

Fahlén has held various positions at Handelsbanken and its subsidiaries since 2001, joining as an economist with Handelsbanken Asset Management and rising to head of institutional asset management.

After more than four years at Handelsbanken, she returned to Handelsbanken Asset Management for six years before moving to Handelsbanken Capital Markets, where she rose to her current position from head of global research and head of economic research.

“With her, we get a capital management manager with extensive experience in managing … management, analysis and capital market operations,” AP7 CEO Pål Bergström said in a release. “She is an engaging leader who has shown great ability to develop various businesses.”

In April, AP7 announced it was looking for a new head of asset management and was seeking someone with a “deep and broad knowledge” in asset management who can create an “open and trusting” work environment.

“I am very much looking forward to my new role,” Fahlén said in a release, “not least in light of the new investment opportunities in alternative assets as well as being able to participate and contribute to the high ambitions AP7 has in the area of sustainability.”