Pelle Nilsson
CIO
Getinge
Pelle Nilsson holds the position of Group CIO at Getinge, an internationally recognized Medtech firm with a focus on Intensive Care, Cardiovascular Procedures, Sterile Reprocessing, and Digital Health. His tenure began in December 2022. Renowned for its innovative contributions that enhance and preserve human life, Getinge is committed to one of the world’s most vital missions.
Learn more about the Nordic CIO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I started off in the Swedish hotel industry but changed directions in 2001 when I moved to IT consulting – I spent 8 years there. I joined Getinge in 2008 and have had several global roles over the years including End-User Manager, IT Operations Director EMEA, IT Director Legacy Applications and VP Governance.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
I believe trust and empowerment are key factors working in an international setting. You must be able to trust your people and make sure that they feel empowered to do their work.
What is the greatest challenge technology leaders face today, and how are you addressing it?
It's difficult to manage all the "shadow IT" that happens in the organization. IT is everywhere and you can't expect to control it all. The way you interact with your business stakeholders is the key to mitigate this. Another difficult area I know that I share with many other CIOs is budget restrictions, including how to make sure you can deliver needed services with limited resources.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?
Everything is about the business, so make sure you learn about your business and the associated business processes. And as always – build strong networks both internally and externally.
How do you measure success as a leader?
I think there’s many different ways to measure success. Besides the obvious ones where you deliver on your projects/objectives, I would say that the way you get included into business strategic discussions indicates your success. Are you seen as a value-driven partner that gets early invites or are you always late into the discussions? Your answer to that indicates the value your organization sees in your role today.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
We all struggle with similar challenges as CIOs. To not benefit from the experience from others is just plain dumb. Evanta has an impressive list of CIOs and CISOs that are open to contribute and discuss these topics.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
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