Shortly before the election, the government appointed a new director general for Svenska kraftnät, SVK, which is responsible for Sweden's electricity supply. The authority is one of the energy system's most important actors and has grown explosively in step with electrification. Today, Svenska kraftnät has over 2,100 employees and more than 1,000 consultants.
Government Kristersson's choice fell on Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch's (KD) state secretary Maja Lundbäck. The then 36-year-old civil engineer thus became one of the youngest directors-general in Sweden's history.
The decision drew criticism from the opposition.
- Appointing a state secretary to a crucial position a month before an election is downright frivolous. Especially when it happens completely without anchoring with the opposition, the Center Party's energy policy spokesperson Rickard Nordin told the Alting.
Svenska Dagbladet was later able to reveal that the government had made several adjustments to the requirement profile, compared to the one that applied previously. The requirement profile thus suited Maja Lundbäck's CV better. At the same time, she did not fulfill two mandatory requirements for the position: the requirement for experience in "leading through other managers", or to "lead and develop operations in a government agency".
DN has also seen Lundbäck's CV and personal letter which reinforces that image.
- We make higher demands on leadership experience for our unit managers than apply to the organization's highest post, says a source with good access to DN.
Maja Lundbäck has declined an interview with DN. SVK's press department writes in an email that "since the government has decided to appoint Maja Lundbäck as director general, they have made the assessment that she meets the qualifications."
In just two months, the appointment has created an internal storm at SVK, DN learns. In the past three weeks, several independent sources have contacted DN to raise the alarm about irregularities. We have spoken to eight people who all have good insight into the management of the authority, and who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
The sources, all of whom are high up in the organization, describe that a culture of silence has been created since the new boss took office.
- There is a strong fear. To make mistakes. To be scolded, and to be honest. We feel monitored, says a source.
Several tell DN that the director general has repeatedly given the authority's managers collective reprimands, but also individually, behind closed doors.
Criticism is also directed at the fact that Maja Lundbäck should have presented a complete plan for a major reorganization without anchoring it with the entire management team.
Several point out that the situation at Svenska kraftnät needs to be reviewed.
- What is happening is frankly harmful for Sweden, says a senior SVK manager.
- I am very concerned. Partly over the work situation of all colleagues, but also over the effectiveness of this socially important mission, says another insider source.
Maja Lundbäck writes in the email from her press department:
"I take opinions from employees very seriously and want to have an open dialogue about things that can be improved. However, I find it difficult to comment on information that is presented anonymously. As a manager, you can always expect to receive comments on your leadership, it is part of the role of manager."
On Thursday last week, at a management conference, one of the authority's top managers announced that he was leaving SVK - after only two years in the post. The senior manager, who sits on the management team and is one of the director general's closest employees, is described by DN's sources as popular and competent.
The manager writes in an SMS to DN that the decision to leave "has developed over time".
"Now is the right time for me to leave the assignment," writes the manager, without giving any further comments.
Director General Maja Lundbäck writes to DN that it is always "sad when valued managers choose to move on."
Several people DN spoke to interpret the real reason why the top manager quits as dissatisfaction with the new director general. Several other senior managers with whom DN has been in contact state that they are also considering quitting.
- I have doubts about whether I should stay. This has been a fantastic workplace. But that has changed, says one of them.
- If this is allowed to continue, it will have enormous consequences. There will be a total stop in operations, says another source with many years in the organization.
Alarms about misconduct have reached trade unions as well as people on the board.
- It is not unusual in connection with change work for employees to become worried. But should it turn out that there is something in this, we have to get hold of it, says board chairman Torbjörn Wahlborg, who points out that the issue has not been on the board's table.
The union ST and Saco on Svenska kraftnät both confirm that they have received anonymous information regarding Maja Lundbäck's leadership, that they take the information seriously but need to confirm it.
