For more than two decades, Scandic has been developing its future leaders within the Group through its internal Talent@Scandic leadership program. Recently, 24 talents from the company’s five markets were selected to undergo seven months of intensive skills training led by industry representatives, mentors and leadership development managers.

Each year, Scandic’s Executive Committee identifies the focus areas and projects that Talent@Scandic participants will delve into based on the company’s strategy and direction. In this year’s program, projects will have an overall commercial and HR focus. The talents will also receive training in project management, financial knowledge and commercial, leadership and operational development as central parts of the leadership segment. Additionally, they will be matched with mentors from Scandic’s organisation to increase familiarity and guidance during the duration of the program. 

“I’m extremely proud that for more than 20 years, we’ve had such a great focus on and commitment to knowledge and leadership development at Scandic. Developing and nurturing our team members lays the foundation for how our company feels and performs and creates strong, effective leaders. Together with the Executive Committee and our leadership development managers, I am convinced that this year’s talents will go far at Scandic and that in the future, they will continue to stand firmly during both ups and downs,” says Jens Mathiesen, President & CEO of Scandic Hotels Group.

“Now more than ever as we experience major shifts in the world around us, it is of the utmost importance to develop skills and continue our extensive work to shape the leaders of the future. Training is an area where we invest significant amounts of time and energy to create the right conditions for people to succeed within the company and as leaders as well as personally. We’re now offering these talents a smorgasbord of knowledge and in seven months, we’ll have 24 new employees prepared to take on leadership roles at Scandic,” says Maud Samuelsson, Group HR Manager, who is responsible for leadership development at Scandic Hotels Group.  

The Talent@Scandic program is built on Scandic’s leadership compass and the concepts empower, build trust, inspire and collaborate, the basic principles of the company’s leadership development. 

This year’s participants
Denmark
  • Patrice Boman, Hotel Manager, Scandic Palace Hotel    
  • Patrick Nielsen, Restaurant & Bar Manager, Scandic Falkoner    
  • Stine Wiis, Front Office Manager, Scandic Sydhavnen
Finland
  • Anna-Pauliina Urjo, Front Office Manager, Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport    
  • Antti Viitasalo, Hotel Manager, Scandic Jyväskylä Station    
  • Ida-Riikka Tanhuanpää, Food & Beverage Manager, Scandic Park Helsinki    
  • Sami Lyly, Head Chef, Marski by Scandic
  • Tuomo Laaksonen, Director Corporate Sales, Country Support Office Finland
Germany
  • Melanie Konopka, Food & Beverage Manager, Scandic Frankfurt Museumsufer
Norway
  • Amalie Heitman, Acting General Manager, Scandic Svolvær
  • Andre Bjerke, Front Office Manager, Scandic Sjølyst
  • Christopher Spencer, Food & Beverage Manager, Hotel Norge by Scandic
  • Ieva Marcinkeviciute, Housekeeping Manager, Hotel Norge by Scandic    
  • Mareike Friemel-Haukebö, Hotel Manager, Scandic Seilet    
  • Martine Brusletto Stenberg, Food & Beverage Manager, Scandic Sjølyst    
  • Nora Aasprong, Accounting Manager, Country Support Office Norway
Sweden
  • Anna Koivisto, In-house Sales Manager Group & Meetings, Country Support Office Sweden
  • Anna Larsson, Food & Beverage Manager, Haymarket by Scandic
  • Annie Dahlstedt, Service Team Manager, Scandic Winn
  • Caroline Björnlund, Service Team Manager, Scandic Örebro Central 
  • Claes Benediktsson, Food & Beverage Manager, Downtown Camper by Scandic
  • Karin Bjerenius, Service Team Manager, Scandic Portalen    
  • Marica Nivelt, Hospitality Manager, Scandic Grand Central
  • Vegard Fjärvoll, Service Team Manager, Scandic Upplands Väsby