Board of Directors

Telia Company's Board of Directors consists of eight members elected by general meetings, serving one-year terms, and three employee representatives from the Swedish operations. The 2017 AGM elected Marie Ehrling as Chair of the Board.

An additional Finnish employee representative is present at Board meetings but without voting rights. The members elected by the AGM are considered to be independent in relation to the company and to the shareholders.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the company's organization and the management of the company's business, which means that the Board of Directors determines the Group's general strategy and makes strategic decisions of greater importance.

The Board of Directors appoints the Chief Executive Officer and issues guidelines for the management of the Group.

The guidelines for the work of the Board of Directors are set down in standing orders. The standing orders contain rules regarding the number of ordinary Board meetings (at least five ordinary meetings per calendar year), the agenda of ordinary Board meetings, responsibilities within the Board, including the obligations of the Chair of the Board, responsibilities of members of the Board and the CEO, and how work is carried out in committees.

Marie Ehrling

Chair of the Board

Born 1955. Chair of the Board. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2013. Read more

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo

Vice-Chair of the Board

Born 1953. Vice-Chair of the Board. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2012. Read more

Susanna Campbell

Board member

Born 1973. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2016. Read more

Anna Settman

Board member

Born 1970. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2016. Read more

Mikko Kosonen

Board member

Born 1957. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2013. Read more

Nina Linander

Board member

Born 1959. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2013. Read more

Martin Lorentzon

Board member

Born 1969. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2013. Read more

Olaf Swantee

Board member

Born 1966. Elected to the Board of Directors in 2016. Read more

Agneta Ahlström

Board member

Born 1960. Employee representative, appointed by the trade union to the Board of Directors in 2007. Read more

Stefan Carlsson

Board member

Born 1956. Employee representative, appointed by the trade union to the Board of Directors in November 2009. Read more

Peter Wiklund

Board member

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Kari Kaukonen

Board member

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Activities

In 2016, the Board of Directors held 8 ordinary meetings (whereof one inaugural meeting) and 6 extra meetings. In addition to following up on the day-to-day business of the group, the Board of Directors paid special attention to:

  • Strategic options, with specific review of the changing business environment in the telecom industry

  • Assessment of the operations in region Eurasia, focusing both on business and compliance issues

  • Follow-up of major strategic initiatives within the business operations

  • Review of the overall sustainability risks for the group, including decisions on new or updated group policies

  • Continued close monitoring and control of the investigations of the severe corruption and money-laundering allegations related to the investments in Uzbekistan, by the Swedish Prosecution Authority, by the Dutch prosecutor and police authorities, and by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission

  • Follow-up and review of the Telia Company’s exit process from Eurasia

  • Divestments of Yoigo and of Sergel Group, as well as other M&A activities

  • Reviewing efficiency initiatives and cost-reduction programs

  • Regulatory developments in the telecom industry

  • Potential acquisitions, joint ventures and increase of ownership in subsidiaries

  • Investments in telecom licenses and frequency permits

  • Follow-up of CAPEX, in particular related to network investments

  • Developments in the associated companies in Turkey and Russia

  • Capital structure of the group

  • Operating model and organizational issues

  • Human Resources issues, in particular succession planning and performance management

Further, the Board of Directors evaluated its internal work during 2016 by self-assessment, based on individually responding to formal surveys and bilateral interviews with the Chair of the Board and the Nomination Committee, the latter to which the result of the evaluation was also reported.

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Committees

To improve board work efficiency, the Board of Directors has appointed a Remuneration Committee and an Audit and Responsible Business Committee. The committees prepare recommendations for the Board.

The Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee handles issues regarding salary and other remuneration to the CEO and Group Executive Management, incentive programs that target a broader group of employees and succession planning. The Remuneration Committee has the authority to approve remuneration to the members of Group Executive Management, except for the CEO remuneration which is decided by the entire Board of Directors. The committee consists of Marie Ehrling, (Chair), Susanna Campbell and Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

The Audit and Responsible Business Committee

The Audit and Responsible Business Committee reviews for example financial statements, accounting, internal controls over financial reporting and auditing. The Audit and Responsible Business Committee has the authority to decide on audit scope and audit fees and to approve purchase of other services from the external auditors. The committee primarily reviews the sustainability strategy, the progress of the Sustainability Priority Action Plan and the Ethics and Compliance programs as well as the external sustainability reporting. The committee consists of Nina Linander (Chair), Marie Ehrling, Anna Settman and Olaf Swantee.

If you believe there are deficiencies in Telia Company’s financial reporting or if you suspect any misconduct within the Telia Company group, you may address your concerns to:

Telia Company AB, Board of Directors
Att: Jonas Bengtsson, Secretary of the Board
Stureplan 8 SE-106 63 Stockholm
Swede

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Remuneration

At the 2017 Annual General Meeting, annual remuneration to the Chair of the Board of Directors was set at SEK 1,650,000 and to Vice-Chair SEK 795,000. Other Board members elected by the AGM shall receive annual remuneration of SEK 560,000 each.

No remuneration is paid to members who are employed within the Telia Company Group.

The AGM furthermore determined that annual remuneration shall be paid to the chair of the Audit and Responsible Business committee in the amount of SEK 200,000 and to other members of the audit committee in the amount of SEK 150,000 each.

The chair of the remuneration committee will be paid an annual fee of SEK 70,000, and other members of the remuneration committee will be paid an annual fee of SEK 50,000 each.

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