Micael Johansson, CEO, Saab Group

Mr Micael Johansson is President and CEO of the Swedish defence and security company Saab. He is a member of Saab Group Management.

Mr Johansson took up his position on October 23, 2019

Mr Johansson brings around 40 years of experience within engineering, sensor systems and defence. He is an experienced leader and has served within many different areas and at many different levels of Saab AB through the years. Most recently, he served as Senior Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO for Saab AB. Before that, he served as Senior Vice President and head of business area Surveillance, comprising Saab’s operations within Radar, Electronic Warfare, Command and Control and Traffic Management systems.

Since 2023, he has been Vice Chairman of the Board of ASD – Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe.

Mr. Johansson started his career as a systems engineer in 1985. After that, he held various management positions at Saab Avionics (then known as Ericsson Saab Avionics). In 2008, he was appointed President of Saab Avitronics, and in January 2010, he became Senior Vice President and Head of Saab’s business area Surveillance.

He is active on a global level within Saab through various positions and boards within Saab, giving him a unique platform for involvement in the business in countries such as the USA, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

Mr Johansson holds a BSc+ in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Uppsala, Sweden and various management training, e.g. at IFL Executive Education and Investor Forum Novare.

Ms Meia Nouwens is Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, UK. Ms Nouwens leads cross-departmental research on China across the Institute’s five offices. She leads IISS research on China’s Digital Silk Road and Belt and Road Initiative. Meia’s expertise lies in Chinese security and defence analysis, innovation, as well as China’s regional strategic affairs and international relations.

Prior to commencing at IISS, she worked for the European External Action Service. She has previously worked in private-sector consulting firms and international organisations on foreign policy, security and defence topics.

Ms Nouwens holds a BA Hons in international relations and political science from Macquarie University, a master’s in international relations and diplomacy from Leiden University in conjunction with the Clingendael Institute, and an MPhil in modern Chinese studies from the University of Oxford and Peking University. She is bilingual in English and Dutch and proficient in Mandarin, Spanish and French.

Ms Nouwens has been featured in the Financial Times, Politico, The Washington Post, Reuters, Bloomberg UK, Breaking Defense, Defense News, BBC, The Japan Times, Nikkei Asia, The Diplomat, The Economist, NOS, Prospect Magazine, The Guardian, The Telegraph, among other news organisations.