Sustainability and Success: Lessons from Arve Axelsson's Career in Mechanic, Engineering, and Global Procurement

Monday, April 14, 2025

From shipbuilding to building a sustainable future, Arve Axelsson’s 45-year journey has led him to the intersection of procurement, energy, and sustainability. What keeps him going? "It's the people and the purpose that make it all worthwhile!”

Your career began as a ship mechanic. What sparked the transition from shipbuilding to the world of Freia, now Mondelēz International?

I joined back in 1980 after working as a ship mechanic. The main reason was that the shipyard in Oslo was about to close. When I searched for a new job, I found an advertisement for a job where they needed mechanics and offered good conditions. In other words, it was just luck when looking back on this today.

Forty-five years (45) is an incredible tenure! Tell us about your professional journey and key milestones leading to your responsibilities.

It's been an incredible journey – about 45 years ago, I walked through these doors for the first time as a mechanic. Since then, I've enjoyed the opportunity to hold several positions within the company. One of my first roles was as a course leader, where I trained all sorts of people – technical staff, shop floor managers, even senior managers – in problem-solving and decision-making. After that, I moved into engineering as a technician. After the company merge, I led a pan-European project on equipment sourcing, eventually leading me into the procurement world. That role started my journey to where I am today, working mainly in the energy area, with a few stops in other positions.

What does your current role entail, and what are your responsibilities within Global Procurement, specifically concerning energy and sustainability?

I have two distinct roles within global procurement. Primarily, I'm a Senior Manager within the Global Commodity Price Risk Management team, focusing on energy (95% of my time). Secondarily, I am the Branch Manager for Mondelēz Europe Procurement's Norwegian branch (5% of my time).

In my Global role, I monitor energy markets – globally, regionally, and locally – to identify key price drivers. Based on this analysis, I develop and implement strategies to minimize our financial risk from volatile energy markets, ensuring alignment with regional and global business leaders. A significant part of this role is supporting our sustainability agenda by collaborating with regional project teams to tender and negotiate long-term contracts with solar and wind farm developers. This is critical to achieving our plants' 100% renewable electricity target and commitment.

In my Norwegian branch role, I primarily manage our interests within the Norwegian dairy market. I serve as the main point of contact for Norwegian agricultural authorities and the raw milk market regulator, representing Mondelēz's position whenever changes are proposed in that sector that could potentially impact our business.

From Freia to Mondelēz, can you share a memorable moment that captures your experience and growth?

Some of my fondest memories during my 45 years with the company are linked to pushing for new ways of working, challenging the existing ways of thinking, and learning about different cultures and perspectives. An example was when my team and I traveled around Europe to convince multinational energy companies to allow us to risk manage our energy exposure. We were met with great skepticism and received feedback that this would never be possible. The sense of accomplishment was, therefore, tremendous when we ended up being among the first companies in Europe to get those risk management solutions in place back in the early 2000's.

Another memory is from the night before Christmas Eve a few years ago. While most people were preparing for the Christmas celebrations, we negotiated a hard deal in Johan Throne Holst's old board room in Oslo for new ovens critical to producing the Norwegian heritage brand. Despite the late-night negotiations, we didn't land the deal until January the year after.

After 45 years in the company, what aspects excite you and make you passionate about your work at Mondelēz?

Well, it's hard to pinpoint just one reason after so many years, especially seeing the company evolve from family-owned to global. But if I had to list a few key aspects, it's always been a place where you can develop yourself if you're willing to take on challenges. It's a place where you can connect with people from all over the world and learn from them. And we have products that make you proud, no matter where you are – because most people have a positive connection to at least one of our brands and often say it's their favorite.