Louis Schweitzer, following a request from the AB Volvo board of directors, last week agreed to take over as the chairman of Volvo’s board for the period until the next annual general meeting. Finn Johnsson recently informed the board of his intention to resign as chairman.

“I have worked on various Volvo Boards since 1989, in particular the Board of AB Volvo, of which I have been a member since 1998 and chairman since 2004, but I need to free up time for a growing number of increasingly comprehensive assignments, which is why I am now leaving the board,” Johnsson said. “I could have left the board of directors at the next annual general meeting, but since a successor was available already now, the rest of the board and I agreed that there was no reason to wait.”

Schweitzer has been a member of AB Volvo’s board of directors since 2001. Schweitzer has extensive experience heading large, multinational companies and his positions have included those of president and chairman of Renault SA. Schweitzer is chairman of Astra Zeneca and a member of the boards of BNP Paribas, Véolia and L’Oréal. Until March 8, he is also chairman of the French Government’s High Authority to Fight Discrimination and to Promote Equality.

“Volvo is a company with which I have worked closely for many years,” said Schweitzer. “It is a great honor and a very exciting challenge to take over as chairman of the company.”