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Ruter Dam of the Year 2025: Ulrika Kolsrud, President and CEO of Essity

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Ruter Dam of the Year 2025 is awarded to Ulrika Kolsrud, who recently assumed the role of President and CEO of the global hygiene and health company Essity. The honorary award is presented to the woman who has been promoted to the most influential executive position within Swedish business during the past year.

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On June 1, 2025, Ulrika Kolsrud took office as President and CEO of Essity. She most recently served as President of Essity Health & Medical and has been a member of Essity’s Executive Management Team since 2015. Ulrika has extensive and versatile experience from the industries in which Essity operates and has worked across all parts of the value chain – from innovation and production to sales.

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“I am truly happy and honored to be named Ruter Dam of the Year and hope that my experiences can inspire more women to take on leading roles in business. As CEO of Essity for just over four months, I am focused on developing the company into an even more customer-oriented and agile organization together with our fantastic and committed employees. I see great potential in Essity and am very enthusiastic about leading the company into its next chapter,” says Ulrika Kolsrud, President and CEO of Essity.

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Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. Every day, one billion people around the world use the company’s products and services. Sales are conducted in around 150 countries under the globally leading brands TENA in incontinence products and Tork in professional hygiene solutions, as well as other strong brands such as Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, and Lotus. In 2024, Essity reported net sales of approximately SEK 146 billion and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters are located in Stockholm, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

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“Ulrika Kolsrud’s leadership is characterized by strategic thinking, the courage to explore new paths, and a strong ability to inspire her team. She demonstrates how Essity can be driven forward through innovation, inclusion, and the ability to see opportunities in every challenge. These qualities make her a strong and visionary leader for Essity’s next phase of development,” 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 during the year has been promoted to the highest position of responsibility within Swedish business, based on the company’s size, turnover, and the degree of power and influence held by the executive.​​

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