A rare exception: Nathalie Ahlström was elected CEO of an Australian listed company

Enthusiastic. This is the word used by the former CEO of Fiskars Nathalie Ahlström his new job.

On Thursday morning, Ansell, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of healthcare and industrial protective gloves and clothing, announced the selection of Ahlström as the company’s CEO. Ansell is an Australian listed company.

This is an exceptional appointment, as it is very rare for a Finn to be elected CEO of a listed company outside the Nordic countries.

Ansell operates in more than 55 countries and, according to the company’s announcement, employs more than 15,000 people worldwide. In the fiscal year ending at the end of June 2025, the company’s turnover was approximately two billion dollars.

According to Ahlström, the fact that it is a “very global business” adds to the enthusiasm for the new task.

“There is a big Yankee market and an Asian market.”

Both markets have become familiar to Ahlström most recently as CEO of Fiskars. Fiskars announced last May that Ahlström will step down from the company’s management. I have become familiar with Asia in the past also when working in Singapore, for example.

Ahlström praises that Ansell, which is more than a hundred years old, is in good financial shape.

“The purpose is to accelerate the company’s growth through strategy,” he says about his goals.

Ahlström starts in the position on February 16. Ahlström does his work from Brussels.

Ansell’s chairman of the board Nigel Garrard said in the appointment announcement that Ahlström brings “exceptional leadership” to the company. In addition, he praised Ahlström for bringing a “deep understanding of innovation” to the company.

The position of Ansell’s CEO will become vacant when the previous CEO Neil Salmon retires. He started as the company’s CEO in September 2021.