SJ’s CEO, Monica Lingegård, is being pushed to step down. Chairman Kenneth Bengtsson confirmed her departure to Dagens Industri on Sunday, and the company’s press office has since verified the news. A successor will be introduced on Monday.
The board formally decided on the change earlier this month, though recruitment has been ongoing since last spring. Lingegård will remain in her role until March 1, after which she will receive a 12-month severance package worth 6.6 million kronor.
Bengtsson stresses the move is not a verdict on her performance or a reaction to the internal criticism she faced last winter. Instead, the board wants a leader who can commit to a longer horizon. Lingegård, who turns 63 in December, was unlikely to remain in the role for the 5–7 years the board envisions.
“It’s clear that I would have liked to continue,” Lingegård told Svenska Dagbladet.
Successor to Be Unveiled
Bengtsson describes the incoming chief as a “senior and experienced” executive, but declined further details ahead of Monday’s announcement.
A Divisive Tenure
Lingegård has steered SJ since 2020, a period marked by both crises and controversy. In December, whistleblowers inside the company accused her of taking SJ in the wrong direction. More recently, the company has faced mounting public anger over delays, infrastructure chaos, and customer service failures. The Swedish Consumer Agency opened an investigation in August following widespread summer disruptions.
Lingegård herself has acknowledged the seriousness of the problems, calling the delays “a national disaster” during an appearance on SVT’s Agenda 2024.
Bottom line: SJ’s board is betting that new leadership and a longer-term mandate will restore confidence in the state-owned railway. Monday’s appointment will show who they believe can deliver.