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Ruter Dam of the Year 2024 is awarded to Simone Margulies, who recently assumed the role of President and CEO of Axfood.
The honorary award is given to the woman who has been promoted to the most influential executive position in Swedish business during the past year.

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In August 2024, Simone Margulies took on the role as President and CEO of Axfood. Simone has worked within the Axfood Group for eight years and has been a member of the executive leadership team for the past four. Before taking the top position at Axfood, Simone served as CEO of Hemköpkedjan AB, which includes the Hemköp and Tempo retail chains. She brings with her over 18 years of experience in the grocery retail industry.

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“It is a tremendous honor to be named Ruter Dam of the Year, and I feel deeply proud to receive this recognition. Leading Axfood into its next chapter is truly my dream job. Axfood is a fantastic group in an incredible industry, filled with outstanding leaders and employees, and has a unique opportunity to positively influence societal development,” says Simone Margulies.

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Axfood is one of the leading players in Swedish grocery retail, comprising chains such as Hemköp, Willys, Tempo, Handlar’n, Matöppet, and Dagab. Each week, the company’s stores serve around 5 million customers through more than 300 company-owned stores, e-commerce, and over 700 partner-owned stores. Axfood employs approximately 13,000 full-time equivalents and reported net sales exceeding SEK 80 billion. Axfood’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, with Axel Johnson as the principal owner.

 

“Simone Margulies is a modern leader whose passion for sustainable development and strong vision have driven significant progress at Axfood and in the grocery industry. Her ability to lead with a commercial focus while placing people and social responsibility at the center makes her a role model for the leadership of the future. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion has also helped shape a more inclusive corporate culture. These contributions make her a highly deserving recipient of the Ruter Dam of the Year 2024 award,” says Marika Lundsten, CEO of Ruter Dam.

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The Ruter Dam of the Year honorary award has been presented annually since 1990. The recipient is selected by Ruter Dam’s CEO Marika Lundsten together with the board, consisting of Chair Heléne Mellquist, Anna Borg, Malin Frenning, and honorary member Gunilla Arhén. The selection process considers which woman has, during the year, been promoted to the highest position with the greatest responsibility in Swedish business, based on company size, turnover, and the woman’s level of power and influence.

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