Experience - Kjell Karlsson
Over 25 years across engineering, R&D and commercial leadership — from mechanical engineer to CEO. Built in Sweden, USA, China, the UK and internationally, always hands-on and close to the business.
Current roles
CEO, founder and board positions across engineering and technology companies in Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Chief Executive Officer
2025 – presentSignsOnDemand · SkyTech AB
Sweden
Leading the European market leader in technical installation signage.
Chief Executive Officer
2023 – presentUpdal Solutions AB
Sweden
Leading an engineering and technology group across Sweden and the UK.
Founder
2023 – presentUpdal Group
Sweden
Built a modern engineering company combining technical expertise with entrepreneurship.
Board Member
2023 – PRESENTUpdal Holding AB - Updal Engineering AB - Updal Green Energy AB - Updal Solutions AB
Sweden
Supporting the strategic development of the Updal Group — overseeing investments and building technology companies through active ownership and long-term partnerships.
Board Member
2025 – presentZapIQ
United Kingdom
Supporting long-term strategy and growth in engineering services, IoT and connected technologies — product strategy, business development, partnerships and international expansion.
Earlier career
More than 25 years at Laird, Sunway Communication and TT Electronics, growing from mechanical engineer to global engineering and commercial leadership.
Stadium Group plc / TT Electronics plc · 2016 – 2025
Nine years of board, managing director and engineering leadership roles — from Stadium Group through the TT Electronics acquisition.
Board Member
2016 – 2025TT Electronics plc
Kista, Sweden
Board responsibilities across nine years, spanning the Stadium Group acquisition and the build-out of the connectivity and IoT business.
Managing Director Connectivity
2020 – 2023TT Electronics plc
Kista, Sweden
Led strategy, operations and business development within connected technologies, building long-term customer partnerships.
Managing Director Kista RDC
2018 – 2023TT Electronics plc
Kista, Sweden
Led the Swedish R&D centre with overall responsibility for engineering, operations and customer relationships.
Vice President of Engineering — IoT Solutions
2019 – 2020TT Electronics plc
Kista, Sweden
Strategic leadership of the engineering organisation, driving product and organisational development.
Managing Director — IoT
2018 – 2019TT Electronics plc
Kista, Sweden
Led the IoT initiative — strategy, product development and manufacturing with teams across Europe and Asia.
Head of Sales & Engineering
2018Stadium Group plc
Kista, Sweden
Led the Group's sales and engineering organisations, then supported the integration following the acquisition by TT Electronics.
Managing Director Stockholm RDC
2016 – 2018Stadium Group plc
Kista, Sweden
Led the Swedish R&D centre, focused on high-performing teams and complex development projects.
Managing Director Stadium Connectivity
2016 – 2017Stadium Group plc
Kista, Sweden
Led the Connectivity business, delivering innovative wireless and IoT solutions across European and global markets.
Group Engineering Director
2016Stadium Group plc
Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area
Led the Group's engineering organisation across multiple international sites.
Sunway Communication · 2012 – 2016
Global R&D and commercial leadership — from the Stockholm R&D Centre to business development across Europe and the United States.
Managing Director Europe & USA
2012 – 2016Sunway Communication
Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area
Responsible for the Stockholm R&D Centre and commercial development across Europe and the United States.
Senior Director, R&D
2012 – 2016Sunway Communication
Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area
Responsible for global technology strategy and product development across engineering sites in the US, Asia and Europe.
Board Member
2012 – 2016Sunway Communication
Kista, Sweden
Board responsibilities alongside the R&D and commercial roles.
Allgon Mobile Communications / Laird Technologies Ltd. · 2000 – 2012
Growing from mechanical engineer to global engineering leadership.
Director of Engineering
2009 – 2012Laird
Beijing & Stockholm
Responsible for six global R&D centres and around 180 engineers.
R&D Manager
2007 – 2009Laird
Beijing, China
Scaled the R&D team from 30 to more than 80 engineers.
Engineering Manager, Mechanics
2006 – 2007Laird
Stockholm, Sweden
Led 25 mechanical and industrialisation engineers.
Senior Mechanical Engineer
2002 – 2005Laird
Sweden & Beijing
Helped establish Laird's Design Centre in Beijing.
Mechanical Engineer
2000 – 2002Laird
Sweden
Developed mechanical solutions for antenna products with the Asia Engineering Team.
IKG · 1998 – 1999
The start of the engineering career.
Mechanical Engineer
1998 – 1999IKG
Sweden
Consultant assignment at ABB Transformers in Ludvika — mechanical design of transformers and reactors, the foundation for later international engineering leadership roles.
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