Interview with CEO Patrik Hjelmberg

Bonnier Solutions is a newly established company within the Bonnier Group. The business concept is to deliver high quality administrative services mainly within Finance & Accounting and Payroll, to all Bonnier companies in the Nordic region.

Services will include Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Record to Report (accounting and reporting), Payroll, Travel & Expense reporting, administration of company cars and pensions as well as expertise functions for accounting, VAT, pensions etc.

 "Our goal is to establish the Nordic countries' leading and most exciting shared service center for customers as well as employees," says Patrik Hjelmberg, CEO Bonnier Solutions. "We will offer our customers high quality systems and services to competitive prices. In areas where we haven't been able to work alongside each other before we will now have the opportunity to develop tools and systems together. Business ideas and products may be very local and unique, but systems and ways to work more efficiently within administration, are global. What if we can develop a very good tool for extras which will support Svensk Filmindustri in their movie productions and at the same time create a tool for freelancers in other Bonnier companies? Today we have too many different administrative systems and there has been little possibility to share knowledge and ideas within this field (counting only the Nordic region, we currently have over 60 systems within F&A and Payroll).

A very important factor for the success of Bonnier Solutions is the governance structure. Bonnier Solutions will be run by its customers, giving it a good platform to grow and develop in the direction the board points it.

"Bonnier has a unique position in the market, with many well known brands and strong individuals, giving our service organization a great opportunity to become an exciting office to work in," says Patrik Hjelmberg. "We intend to group Bonnier's administrative expertise under one roof, where knowledge is developed and experience is shared. Bonnier Solutions will 'breathe' media, and over time grow and become a natural speaking partner for companies and its employees in the day-to-day assistance as well as in more complex support cases."

Has it been decided yet where you will establish your office?

"Bonnier Solutions will be located in Stockholm. We are currently looking at office space in DN-huset (Marieberg).  I am pleased that I can offer my employees a central location and at the same time an address strongly connected to Bonnier history."

Companies in Bonnier are used to being very independent. Doesn't this contradict that?

"The main reason for establishing Bonnier Solutions is to manage the increasing internal and external demands on administrative and financial monitoring which we are facing. And if Bonnier wants to stay competitive and successful in the ever changing media landscape, it is my belief that Bonnier Solutions is one of the tools for us to use in order to ease pressure on local organizations and to lower administrative costs in Bonnier. All in all this will actually lead to better possibility for our companies' to conduct business - not restrain it."

"I fully appreciate this being a tough process for many individuals," says Jonas Bonnier, CEO Bonnier. "At the same time setting up Bonnier Solutions is very important to Bonnier's future development. I have already noticed that more people and companies are beginning to see the benefits of a shared service center."

"It is no doubt that this initiative is somewhat unusual for Bonnier," agrees Patrik Hjelmberg. "Our journey has just begun but my mission is clear: I will deliver modern service for a modern organization."