Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden, October 2025 – MAX Burgers, Sweden’s iconic and first hamburger restaurant chain, has announced the appointment of Katarina Lönnelid Ahlquist as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). In this strategic leadership role, Katarina will lead the company’s global people agenda, focusing on workforce transformation, leadership development, and organizational capability as MAX continues its expansion across Sweden and international markets.
A highly accomplished HR leader with nearly three decades of diverse experience, Katarina brings a rich blend of expertise in human capital management, HR technology, talent strategy, and executive development. Her proven record of aligning people and culture initiatives with business growth makes her a strong addition to the executive team at MAX Burgers, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a purpose-driven and sustainable workplace.
Before joining MAX Burgers, Katarina Lönnelid Ahlquist served as Interim People & Culture Operations Manager and Nordic Payroll Manager at Clas Ohlson, where she streamlined HR operations across Nordic markets and led efficiency-driven people initiatives.
Prior to that, she founded and led EnablHR, a people advisory firm where she served as Interim HR Director for leading brands such as Synoptik, Smarteyes Sverige, Plantagen, Myrorna, and Netigate. Over nearly five years as an HR transformation consultant, she advised organizations on organizational development, workforce planning, and leadership coaching, helping them navigate large-scale change management and employee engagement programs.
Earlier, Katarina held a pivotal leadership role as HR Director for Ahlsell Sverige AB, overseeing human resources strategy for Sweden’s largest technical trading company. Her contributions in this role included talent strategy execution, workforce development, and cultural alignment across the organization.
Before that, she spent more than nine years at Saab, where she rose to the role of Vice President, Global Talent Manager and Head of Saab Academy and Employer Branding. At Saab, she led a global team in talent management, employer branding, and leadership development for the defense and security giant. Her tenure was marked by innovative talent initiatives and learning frameworks that strengthened Saab’s global workforce capabilities.
Katarina’s early career included leadership roles at IBM and Ericsson, where she gained deep exposure to project management, HR systems implementation (SAP HR R/3), and service delivery management. She began her HR career at the Swedish Red Cross, where she honed her skills in human resources generalist functions, setting the foundation for her global HR leadership journey.
About MAX Burgers
Founded in 1968, MAX Burgers holds the distinction of being Sweden’s first and most loved hamburger chain, celebrated for its strong legacy of innovation, taste, and sustainability. With operations spanning across Sweden and an expanding presence in international markets, MAX combines its passion for great food with a strong commitment to sustainability, health, and social responsibility.
The company’s mission extends beyond serving high-quality burgers—it is also a pioneer in sustainable restaurant operations, offering climate-positive menus, reducing environmental impact, and providing healthy food alternatives. MAX Burgers continues to redefine fast dining with its customer-centric culture and deep-rooted values of care, quality, and community.
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