SWEDEN – Handelsbanken has created a new role as head of pensions and insurance business.

Stefan Nilsson has been appointed as executive vice president and head of Handelsbanken’s pensions and insurance business as of January 1 2004 - an area in which the bank has strengthened its operations over the last two years, said a spokesman.

Nilsson is currently chief executive of Handelsbanken’s subsidiary SPP, one of the leading life insurance and pension insurance groups in Sweden. SPP is to be demutualised.

Replacing Nilsson as chief executive of SPP is Goran Holgerson. He was previously deputy chief executive of insurer, Handelsbanken Liv, and before that worked in Handelsbanken’s branch office operations.

Furthermore, the chief executive of Handelsbanken Liv, Barbro Johannson will be retiring at the end of the year. She will be replaced by Hans Hagman, regional manager for Handelsbanken Liv’s and SPP’s joint sales organisation in Southern Norrland.

Topics