ESBE CEO, PETER CERNY, WON THE GRAND CEO AWARD 2025!

It is with great joy and pride that we announce that our CEO, Peter Cerny, is now the official winner of perhaps Sweden's finest distinction for business leaders. Thanks to a combination of dedication, financial acumen, and a strong commitment to people and the environment, the jury chose Peter in the tough competition.
Just being nominated among the country's sharpest leaders was an honour for Peter. But this victory also belongs to the entire ESBE – it is a direct result of our teamwork and the driving force that permeates the entire organisation.
We caught up with our winner, right in the middle of the celebration, to talk about what's behind the success and what the future holds.

What does this award mean to you personally? Is it validation of a lifelong effort or a spark for the future?
-    It's great fun and an honour to be recognised in this way! Naturally, the award provides a lot of positive energy to continue to deliver good results at ESBE, together with all employees and colleagues.

Which qualities or principles do you consider most important for a modern CEO who is to lead an established company to continued growth in today's fast-moving market?
-    You need to have a long-term goal to work towards and constantly adjust for what is happening in the market and the world around us, with its ups and downs. You can never be satisfied; there are always things that can be improved. Being a CEO is not a one-man show; you have to surround yourself with good and committed employees!

You often highlight the team as one of the biggest success factors – how do you see your leadership contributing to shaping the winning team and the unique culture we have today?
-    It's important to set reasonable goals and continuously follow up on them. It is important to delegate but not be afraid to delve into details if required. A leader should not provide the answers to all questions but should be able to ask coaching questions to lead in the right direction. Sometimes, as a leader, you naturally have to give clear instructions and make decisions when needed.

ESBE continues to show growth in a well-established company. How do you avoid becoming "satisfied" or complacent? Is it the carrot and the stick or something completely different), that drives innovation forward here?
-    ESBE is a well-established company that has existed for nearly 120 years, but we are far from finished. There is so much left to do to develop the company going forward. Our profit-sharing and the opportunity to buy shares create great commitment and interest among our employees for the company to develop well. Our products contribute to enabling the energy transition worldwide – that itself is a driving force!

We have a solid economy with fantastic key figures. Beyond the numbers, what non-measurable factors (such as culture, cooperation, values) do you consider fundamental to our economic stability?
•    Long-term perspective has always been central at ESBE. Daring to invest at the forefront and believing that investments will enable ESBE to grow even more in the future.   
•    Leadership – that we constantly strive to develop and become a little better, as a company and as employees.
•    Care for our employees, our environment, and our society. Not just in nice words but also in action, and we have many examples of that here at ESBE!

With this fantastic award behind us, what is the next big, bold goal for ESBE? What exciting challenges and opportunities do you see in the near future?
-    Our goal of reaching 1,000,000,000 SEK in turnover remains firm and is what we are primarily working towards. We were very close to reaching the goal in 2023 when the market was red hot, but the market lost momentum in 2024, yet it looks brighter again now. The company management has identified five different growth initiatives that will contribute to increasing our turnover and strengthening our position. Strengthening ESBE's market positions in foreign markets through various collaborations and new company establishments, as well as developing new and innovative products - those are the opportunities I see ahead. 

What advice, full of wisdom and experience, would you like to give to other business leaders striving to lead their companies with the same success, responsibility, and heart?
-    ESBE's great development would not have been possible without all the fantastic employees. Working as a CEO is not a ONE-Man Show but a team effort where you have to get everyone to work towards the same goal.   

How is the award celebrated at ESBE 😊?
-    We naturally celebrate the award together with a traditional Smörgåstårta (Swedish sandwich cake)! 

With the Grand CEO Award 2025 secured, Peter Cerny and ESBE prove that success is built on more than just numbers. It's about long-term leadership, the courage to invest, and a genuine concern for both employees and the environment.
Towards new heights – with Smörgåstårta!