Swedish horse racing wagering operator, AB Trav och Galopp (ATG), has actually called Jörgen Forsberg as its new interim President.

The leadership shuffles at the top of ATG were brought on by the resignation of former CEO Hasse Lord Skarplöth, who held the function for 13 years.

His notice was handed in at the exact same time as ATG exposed a stagnating FY25 financial profile, with lower YoY performance across the board. Both Skarplöth and ATG's Board said at the time that they were parting methods due to conflicting views about the operator's future.

Skarplöth's place was immediately used up by Peter Norman, ATG Chairman, who has been serving as the interim CEO up until now, with Forsberg changing him so that he can totally return to his chairing duties.

Norman commented: "I welcome Jörgen Forsberg to ATG. He will lead the work of executing the strategies decided by the board and be acting CEO until a brand-new CEO is hired. The recruitment procedure for a long-term solution is ongoing."

Forsberg is currently also the CEO of Svensk Travsport, the nationwide governing body of trotting racing. He will carry out both functions concurrently and Ulf Hörnberg, Vice President of Svensk Travsport, will supply assistance for a few of the operational tasks within the organisation, while the procedure of picking a new of ATG occurs.

When it comes to his background, Forsberg has actually formerly been Chairman of the Board and CEO of Stockholms Travsällskap, the operator of the harness-racing track in Stockholm. He also boasts local and international senior management experience in the automobile industry.

On his own consultation, Forsberg stated: "While awaiting a brand-new CEO, I eagerly anticipate continuing to develop ATG together with all of ATG's employees according to the board's plans and safeguarding the business's important role for the Swedish horse market."

Time for change

Previously state-owned, the government loosened its control over ATG in 2015 in a bid to make it more competitive because of an increasing obstacle from international operators since Sweden's market was re-regulated in 2019.

Considered that the operator reported noteworthy YoY earnings decreases in 2025, this year will certainly prove transformative for ATG, especially when a brand-new CEO gets selected.

The operator has likewise been expanding its existence beyond Sweden. Just recently, its joint venture with Hippos Oy applied for a sports betting licence in Finland. Expected to release in 2027, Finland's brand-new managed market could show a core element to ATG's return-to-growth ambitions.