Atlas Copco has appointed Håkan Osvald senior vice president general counsel and member of group management effective Jan. 1, 2012. He succeeds Hans Sandberg who is retiring.

Osvald joined Atlas Copco AB in Sweden in 1985 as legal counsel and relocated in 1989 to Atlas Copco in the United States as general counsel for Atlas Copco North America and Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. In 1991 he was appointed vice president deputy general counsel Atlas Copco Group, with a special responsibility for acquisitions.

“Håkan is internally and externally a well respected general counsel with a wide global industrial knowledge,” said Ronnie Leten, president and CEO of the Atlas Copco Group. “Not least by participating in well over 100 acquisitions and divestments, Håkan has gained valuable strategic as well as operational knowledge and I look forward to his contributions to the group in his new role.”

Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Atlas Copco produces compressors, expanders and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems.