Martin Erkenborn, CEO and Group Manager of Leksand Resort AB, joins as a permanent board member, and Caroline Smitmanis Smids, municipal director of Leksand, returns to the board, this time in the role of vice-chair.
– This is a strong board that will take Visit Dalarna forward in a good way, says Mats Nilsson, chairman of the nomination committee.
Since last summer, Martin Erkenborn has been CEO and Group Manager for Leksand Resort AB, which includes the 40-year-old Leksand Sommarland AB. Martin has a solid background from the airline BRA, where he most recently held the role of Chief Commercial Officer.
– Visit Dalarna holds a crucial key for Dalarna as a whole to be able to take advantage of the strong potential and opportunities that exist for the tourism industry in the coming years. I am very proud and grateful for the trust to be able to contribute to this important work and I especially hope to be able to contribute to an even stronger collaboration in the regional tourism industry for the future, says Martin.
Caroline Smitmanis Smids is the municipal director in Leksand and has previous experience from the Visit Dalarna board as a member between 2017 and 2021. Caroline also has prior experience from various leading positions in both the municipalities of Mora and Älvdalen.
– I am happy to return to the board work in this exciting company which unites the tourism industry, a future sector so important to Dalarna, with important municipal democratic work. The role of vice-chairman represents a fantastic opportunity to work for Dalarna through both these powerful areas, says Caroline.
All 15 municipalities in Dalarna own Utveckling i Dalarna Holding AB, which in turn owns Visit Dalarna AB. The nomination committee consists of Utveckling i Dalarna Holding AB's chairman Mats Nilsson, who is also the chairman of the municipal executive board in Säter Municipality, and vice-chairman Fredrik Jarl, who is the chairman of the municipal executive board in Gagnef. The new board members replace Stefan Linde, who has also left his position as municipal director in Älvdalen Municipality, and Maria Thorstensson, leisure manager in Mora Municipality.
The board's mission is to work according to the owners' intentions; ultimately, it is the municipalities of Dalarna that determine our direction. It is important for all of us that visitors come to our region. The tourism industry is a vital part of Dalarna's continued development and creates good conditions for us who want to live, reside and work here, says the Chairman of the Board, Karin Ringsby.
The board includes representatives from the business community and officials from the municipalities. In addition, there is always an appointed representative from Region Dalarna.
Board composition:
Chairman Karin Ringsby
Vice Chairman Caroline Smitmanis Smids, Municipal Director of Leksand Municipality
Member Anna Björkman, Operations Manager Falu Mine
Member Angelica Ekholm, vd Dalarna Science Park
Member Ulla Köhler, Driver, Grand Hotel Elektra, Ludvika
Member Erik Odens, Head of Business Development, Ludvika Municipality
Member Martin Sahlberg, Chief Operating Officer at Sälens Högfjällshotell Scandinavian Resorts
Member Martin Erkenborn, Chairman and CEO Leksand Resort AB
Acting Elsmari Julin, Head of Administration, Regional Development Administration, Region Dalarna
According to the press release.
