A new era for an old employer

Yesterday I found out that an ex employer of mine have got a new CEO. This is big news in my world! It’s something special because I love that company! That doesn’t happen much with companies I’ve left

The company is a Swedish chain of bookstores – PocketShop. If you’ve ever been to the airport Arlanda (ARN) you’ve probably seen one of their purple stores filled with paperback books.

PocketShop is a brilliant company in so many ways. First, they gave me THE BEST part-time job during my education. Then we have the fact that they sell books at train stations and airports – people are so grateful when the store is open in time for the 5.40 AM train! And then the history of the company. They started at Stockholm Central Station over 10 years ago with a small,small shop, they moved to a bigger store, opened another one and another one. People think it’s an American import or a franchise – but it’s not, it’s privately held and until now the founder has been the CEO.

Of course the organic growth and fairly slow expansion rate has lead to a special type of company (at least it was 3 years ago when I left after 4 years). The people in HQ have worked in the shops, everyone cares a lot about the company and takes responsibility that is unusual within retail. Then, although you hardly see you co-workers,  people just become good friends. It’s a corporate culture that I admire, and one that hope will stay with the new management.

The new CEO is a renowned marketing guy. Per Sjödell has been the marketing director for H&M, communications manager for ICA (Swedish supermarket chain) as well as managing director at Gant in Sweden. An impressive CV, and he got a hold of a company I care deeply about and that I see has a lot of potentials. It can’t be anything but great!

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