Swedish multinational engineering firm Sandvik has lined up Johanna Kreft as its next general counsel, replacing Åsa Thunman, who is leaving to join Swedish construction group Skanska.

Kreft joins from Alleima, a materials technology business which was formerly part of Sandvik before being spun out in 2022. At Sandvik, she will be responsible for all legal, risk, IP and security matters for the business. She will take up her new role on 13 October and will also serve on Sandvik’s executive management team.

Stockholm, Sweden-based Sandvik is a high-tech engineering group that operates in the mining, manufacturing and infrastructure industries.

Stefan Widing, president and CEO of Sandvik, said: “Johanna Kreft brings proven leadership skills, experience from developing a legal organisation in a listed company and extensive knowledge of Sandvik. I am confident that she is a great fit for the role and will be a strong addition to the group executive management.”

Kreft was previously GC of Sandvik’s materials technology unit before it was spun out as Alleima, a position she held since 2013 having previously been legal counsel. Prior to that she was an associate at Swedish law firms Agenda and Michelson & Werner.

Thunman, meantime, is set to leave after just over a decade at Sandvik. She was previously GC at Swedish security services business Securitas AB and medial equipment-maker Elekta, having started her career in private practice at Linklaters.

She announced her departure in January.

At the time, Widing said: “Åsa Thunman has been a highly appreciated colleague, and she has made strong contributions over the years in developing our legal organisation and as a member of the group executive management. I wish her all the best for the future as she now moves on to new challenges outside Sandvik.”

Earlier this month, US aerospace, building automation and energy infrastructure business Honeywell promoted Su Ping Lu to GC, replacing Anne Madden in the role. In January, aerospace and industrial services-focused private equity firm AE Industrial Partners hired Matthew Friendly from McDermott Will & Emery as the firm’s first GC. 

And in October last year, Houston-based industrial services business Brock Group hired Sheena Bradshaw as GC from mobile fuel delivery provider Booster.