Stefan Bengtsson new President for Chalmers

28 Jan 2015 | Network Updates
Stefan Bengtsson has been appointed as the new President of Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. This was a decided at an extra meeting by the university board on January 21.

​Stefan Bengtsson is 53 years old and has been the Vice-Chancellor of Malmö University since 2011.

He graduated from Chalmers University of Technology in 1985 in Applied Physics. He received his Ph.D. in Solid State Electronics at Chalmers in 1992 and was appointed Full Professor in the same subject ten years later. In 2007 Stefan Bengtsson was appointed the First Vice President and later deputy executive officer at Chalmers University of Technology, a position he had when recruited to Malmö University.

– I am thrilled. I appreciate the confidence and now take on this task with great humility. This means that I will be leaving Malmö University earlier than I had planned, even though I have a very exciting job in Malmö, says Stefan Bengtsson.

The recruitment of a new President and CEO for Chalmers University of Technology started in September, after Karin Markides had informed the board that she would not be standing for a third term. This coming summer she will relinquish her position as President after nine years.

During the autumn about fifty applicants and nominees were examined. A handful were called for interview.

At today's board meeting the nomination committee presented its two final candidates for the post, Stefan Bengtsson and Sigbritt Karlsson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Skövde. The nomination committee advocated both as well suited to lead Chalmers. Stefan Bengtsson was prioritized. The board decided to appoint Stefan Bengtsson as the new President and CEO of Chalmers.

– The choice was between two top candidates in line with the board’s expectations by a wide margin. The deciding factor was Stefan's strong leadership capability, says chairman Lena Treschow Torell.

The advisory assembly – where the Faculty Senate, the unions and student’s union are represented – earlier this week reported a similar position to the board. It was found that the two final candidates would be excellent as principals for Chalmers, with priority for Stefan Bengtsson.

Stefan Bengtsson will take up his new position in the summer 2015.

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