Meet Johan Åkerblom, Intrum’s New CEO and President

As part of this next chapter, Johan Åkerblom has been appointed CEO and President, succeeding Andrés Rubio, who stepped down once the recapitalisation was complete. Johan joined Intrum as Chief Financial Officer in 2024. With deep knowledge of Intrum’s strategy, operations and transformation journey, Johan is well positioned to lead the Group forward with continuity and focus.

In this interview, Johan shares his perspective on Intrum’s strategic direction, his immediate priorities, and how technology, including the roll-out of Ophelos, will underpin the Group’s continued evolution.

You’re stepping into the CEO role at a pivotal time. How would you describe Intrum’s position today?

Intrum is in a fundamentally stronger position today. We have completed a successful recapitalisation, which significantly improves our financial flexibility and long-term resilience. At the same time, we have a very clear strategic direction and created the foundations for scalable, capital-light growth.

This leadership transition marks continuity, not change. I have been part of shaping the strategy and financial transformation over the past year, and I am now fully focused on driving execution, together with the team. I see this as the end of the beginning of building the next phase of Intrum. 

How do you see Intrum’s role in society, particularly in terms of responsible collections?

Intrum has an important responsibility in the financial ecosystem. Our work helps individuals and businesses regain control of their finances, which ultimately strengthens the economy. In the past year, we have helped nearly 5 million individuals to improve their financial health.

We do this by combining data-driven insight with a respectful and ethical approach to collections. For me, responsible collections are not just about compliance — they are about how we treat people. It’s about empathy, fairness, and helping customers find sustainable ways to resolve their debts.

How would you describe the strategy going forward?

Our strategy remains firmly in place. We are focused on three priorities:  Operational Excellence, sustainable Commercial Growth and our Capital Light Strategy. These are not abstract ambitions, they are guiding how we run the business every day.

We are reducing complexity, focusing on core capabilities, and scaling solutions that deliver value for our customers and clients. We are now in a position to accelerate progress. We remain focused on executing our strategy with greater discipline, speed and scalability.

My focus is clear: to lead Intrum into a new phase of focused execution, where technology, accountability and client delivery come together to drive long-term value.

What role does technology play?

Technology is a key enabler of how we will improve efficiency, scale delivery, and add value to both clients and customers. As part of that strategy, we have Ophelos, our AI-powered debt resolution platform, and we now need to execute on the commercial ramp up and fully extract the value from an operational perspective, which in will open up new commercial opportunities. 

In addition to Ophelos, we also need to further improve our collection system landscape and transform our set-up to become scalable and more automated. We will do this by applying AI solutions to automate and remove manual processes and more standard customer interactions, to allow our employees to fully focus on value adding activities.  

How we manage to embrace technology will be a strategic differentiator going forward and our transformation will ensure we retain our market leading position. Technology is a strategic enabler that allows us to simplify how we operate, increase capacity across markets, and enhance performance, while ensuring a respectful and data-driven approach to collections.

What are your top priorities as CEO?

With the balance sheet strengthened and the recapitalisation complete, my focus is on delivery that is driven by a team that is aligned on our direction with a focus on execution, a strong culture and shared sense of purpose. Operational Excellence, sustainable Commercial Growth and our Capital Light Strategy are essential, but in order to do so, we also need to foster an environment where people are empowered, engaged, and connected to where we are heading as a business. 

I want us to scale the roll-out of digital and AI solutions such as Ophelos, deliver consistent value to our clients, and ensure our strategy comes to life across markets. But how we get there matters. That means nurturing our talent, identifying skill gaps as the transformation takes place,  building alignment around our goals, and encouraging open, collaborative ways of working.

At the same time, maintaining strong financial and regulatory discipline will be essential to protect long-term value. We are no longer in a phase of restructuring, we are in a phase of focused execution, and that’s where my energy will be directed.

What does this mean for clients and stakeholders?

There is no change in our day-to-day operations, services, or commitments. This is a governance transition, not a strategic shift. With greater clarity, stronger systems, and more scalable solutions, we are well positioned to serve clients with even greater impact.

And finally, what excites you most about the road ahead?

To work together with the team towards a common goal and build a stronger and more competitive Intrum than ever. We have stabilised the foundation. The strategy is in place. Now, it is about executing consistently and building a more focused, more effective Intrum, one that creates lasting value for our clients, our investors, and society.

About Johan Åkerblom

Johan joined Intrum as Chief Financial Officer in 2024. He previously served as CEO of Citadele Bank and held senior executive roles at SEB, including CFO of SEB in Germany and the Baltics.  He started his career at McKinsey & Co. Johan holds a Master of Science in Industrial Management and Engineering from Lund University.