Category: Uncategorized

Every year, the Schibsted Marketplaces (soon to be Vend) Sales Awards give us a chance to pause and reflect. Not just on results, but on the people and mindset behind them.

In 2024, our sales organisation navigated big changes: new structures, ambitious goals, and a fast-moving market. What stood out wasn’t just what we delivered, but how we delivered it. That’s what these awards are really about – celebrating strong performance, yes, but also collaboration, care, and integrity in action.

This year, we spoke to all of our winners. Across countries, roles and teams, they shared what they’re proud of, what motivates them, and what makes Schibsted Marketplaces a special place to work. And while their stories are unique, many of their reflections pointed in the same direction.

The most common theme? People.

Whether they lead a team, support colleagues behind the scenes, or drive value in the customer dialogue, nearly every winner credited others as part of their success – from close teammates and leaders to cross-functional partners. Several highlighted collaboration as the reason things worked, even when the challenges were tough.

One winner put it simply. As Daniel Glinjui, representing the Sales Team of the Year, said:

“We stayed true to our plan, trusted each other, and turned a tough year into one filled with strong customer results.”

Many also talked about the freedom to grow in their roles – and how trust from colleagues and leaders gave them room to take initiative, try new things, and succeed in their own way.

As Michael Meier, Colleague of the Year in Sweden, put it:

“This award gives me so much energy – it’s proof that the more curious and caring you are, the more you get back in return.”

Others reflected on what it means to feel seen by the people you work most closely with. As Heidi Lindland, Colleague of the Year in Norway, shared:

“I’m proud that my colleagues and the people I work closest with are giving me this recognition.”

Behind every award is a story about teamwork, growth and showing up for others – and that says a lot about the culture we’re building together.

To everyone in the sales organisation: thank you for the energy, creativity and resilience you bring to the table. And to this year’s award winners – congratulations! You make us proud.

Meet the Winners!

Sales Person of the Year – Antton Selkanen (Finland)
For his proactive and collaborative approach, ability to tackle complex challenges, and for consistently creating value for customers and colleagues alike.

Sales Leader of the Year – Mona Andreassen (Norway)
For leading with clarity, care, and commitment – balancing strategic direction with people-first leadership through a demanding year.

Sales Team of the Year – Mobility Classifieds Team (Denmark)
For showing how preparation, teamwork, and data-driven insight can create real impact – setting a new standard for customer engagement.

Achievement of the Year – News Media Separation Project
For successfully delivering a new CRM, AdTech, and BI platform under intense pressure, enabling business continuity and setting the foundation for future growth.

Star of the Year – Lukas Dahl Haugen (Norway)
For taking initiative, challenging the status quo, and contributing to both customer success and internal collaboration through curiosity and ownership.

Colleague of the Year Awards 

These awards celebrate those who lift others up, bring energy, and make work better, every single day.

Denmark: Louise Gaarde Touvdal Christensen
For creating a fun, collaborative, and creative work atmosphere, always showing up with enthusiasm, humour, and a helping hand.

Finland: Daan Lautamaja
For combining strong performance with care for his team mates, building trust and contributing to a connected, supportive work culture.

Sweden: Michael Meier
For being a dedicated and supportive colleague who brings positive energy, builds strong relationships, and consistently goes the extra mile.

Norway: Heidi Lindland
For her calm and reliable presence, deep system knowledge, and positive attitude, always supporting colleagues and stepping up when it matters most.

All four winners in the category Colleague of the Year

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day that reminds us of our shared responsibility to challenge racism in all its forms. This day was established by the United Nations in memory of the tragic events in Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960, when peaceful demonstrators protesting against apartheid laws were met with deadly force. While apartheid may be history, racial discrimination is still a reality in many societies, including here, in our part of the world.

Diversity in the Nordics: A Responsibility to Acknowledge

Living in the Nordics, it is easy to think of ourselves as a homogenous region, where the majority share similar ethnic backgrounds. However, the reality is that our societies are increasingly diverse, and our workplaces, including Schibsted Marketplaces – soon to become Vend, reflect this change. Colleagues, customers, and business partners come from all races and ethnic backgrounds, contributing to the richness of our communities and strengthening our business. Today there are significant percentages of people amongst residents in the Nordic countries and in Poland, who do not have a Nordic or a European descent, most notably in Sweden (14%), Norway (10%) and Denmark (7%). Hence, it is crucial that we recognise and acknowledge this diversity and to understand that the experience of racial discrimination is not something far removed. It exists in our societies, in hiring practices, in housing, and even in digital marketplaces. As a company, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or background, has equal opportunities to participate and thrive in both our workplace and on our platforms. 

Why This Day Matters to Us

In our workplace, we believe that diversity is not just a value but a strength. As platforms connecting people from different backgrounds and experiences, our work is fundamentally about building trust, ensuring fairness, and creating opportunities for everyone. Just as thriving marketplaces depend on openness and inclusion, so too does a just and equitable society.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We strive to remove biases in how people access, use, and benefit from our services. Everyone should have an equal chance to participate in our marketplaces. Additionally, we ensure that our organisation is built on a workplace culture that values diversity, where employees from different backgrounds bring fresh perspectives and ideas. We establish policies with zero tolerance for discrimination, both in hiring and in our platform policies, and we commit to stand against racism, prejudice, and exclusion. 

Turning Words into Action

As we reflect on this day, let’s ask ourselves: How can we contribute to eliminating racial discrimination? Do we do it just today or every day? Acknowledging our biases is a first step. Even in societies that value equality, unconscious biases exist. Recognising them is the first step toward change. And then speak up. Whether in the workplace or on our platform, we should not ignore discrimination when we see it. Creating an environment where everyone feels safe to raise concerns is essential. But above all: Commit to fairness. Our company thrives when all voices are heard and opportunities are accessible.

Our Shared Responsibility

This day is not just a reminder of past injustices but a call to action for the present and future. In the Nordics and Poland, racial diversity is a growing reality, and with that comes a responsibility to ensure equity, respect, and inclusion for all. In our workplace, we recognise that we have a role in making online and offline spaces more just and inclusive.

Following the carve-out of Schibsted Media, Schibsted’s remaining business areas – Nordic Marketplaces and Growth & Investments – will create the basis of a new and exciting marketplace company. 

Nordic Marketplaces currently comprises leading marketplaces across the Nordics such as FINN, Blocket, Tori, DBA, Oikotie and Bilbasen, as well as the Delivery operations in Norway. Growth & Investments includes companies such as Lendo, Prisjakt, MittAnbud and a portfolio of early-stage investments.

Our marketplace businesses are currently in the midst of a large strategic shift, as we have organised them to collaborate across the brands in four key verticals: Mobility, Recommerce, Real-Estate and Jobs, instead of countries. 

This makes it possible for us to create common platforms, enabling greater investments in each solution and faster rollouts of innovations. This decision was founded on our belief that the way you sell a car is fundamentally different from the way you sell a t-shirt, but the way you sell a t-shirt is quite similar across our countries.

This journey will continue as we step into the future of a new marketplace company with a mission to make sustainable alternatives and circular consumption the obvious choice. The future strategy and organisational setup for this company are being developed now and are expected to be presented at a Capital Markets Day in the fourth quarter of 2024. 

Christian Printzell Halvorsen, EVP Nordic Marketplaces

“I am incredibly excited about what’s next. Schibsted Marketplaces will be a leaner and faster organisation that can – and will – do more,” says Christian Printzell Halvorsen, EVP Nordic Marketplaces. 

The new brand

The Schibsted brand will follow the new media company after the separation, meaning that this marketplace company needs a new name and new brand. Hanne Hollstedt, CMO of Growth & Investment, and Janne Jacobsen, Director of Brand and Marketing in Nordic Marketplaces, are leading that project.

Hanne Hollstedt, CMO of Growth & Investment

Janne Jacobsen, Director of Brand and Marketing in Nordic Marketplaces

“We have some of the strongest brands in the Nordics, to embrace them in a new family with a new ‘mother’ will be great fun,” Hanne says.

The brand we create needs to be broad enough to work for different directions that the company might take now and in the future. For instance, you don’t want a name that makes the scope of the operations too narrow for future innovation. In these times, when change is constant, this is the reality for brands in general. Companies develop and take new directions.

Another key component will, of course, be Schibsted’s long history of trust legacy, innovation ability and the culture of entrepreneurship. The timeline is short – the goal is to have a new brand in place late this year, but the name and overarching story should be decided on already by the summer.

Both Hanne and Janne are looking forward to getting the name in place – but they are also aware that that’s just the beginning. 

“Of course, it’s important to have that name and a logotype in place – but it doesn’t mean anything until you fill it with meaning. To be known, recognised and liked, you also need to invest a lot in a new brand,” says Janne.

Schibsted Media has a new strategy with a clear ambition; we are going to be the leading media destination in the Nordics. We sat down with Siv Juvik Tveitnes, future CEO of Schibsted Media, to have a chat about the new strategy.

So, Siv – to start, tell us a little bit about Schibsted Media?

Well, we have a unique position in the Nordics today. We are a digital and commercial force to be reckoned with. And our prize-winning, quality journalism is unrivalled, making a real difference in our communities. But we believe we can achieve even more. That’s why our new strategic ambition is to be the leading media destination in the Nordics, reaching and empowering millions of people in their daily lives through offerings with superior relevance.

It’s a big undertaking. What does it require of us?

Our new strategy outlines several things in detail, but let me give you a high-level overview. One of the most important things we have to do is to develop our offering. 

Providing news has always been our core business. Historically, we have therefore invested more in our news offerings and relatively less in entertainment and sports. And given our print paper history, we are stronger at the text format than audio and video. 

To win in the future, we need to adapt, by building our strength across media segments and formats. Our users, and especially our younger audiences below 35, desire more than just news. To meet their interests, we will develop our news products and expand our offers in sports and entertainment. We will continue to invest in audio. And we will significantly scale up video. Our offering has to be unique and complementary to win their loyalty long-term.

What else should we do, to win in the future?

We have to put our consumers first. We have many loyal consumers, who want to pay for and subscribe to our content. We have to establish a direct relationship with each of them, to win their attention and to stay their preferred choice. To do that, we will further develop our products and services in a consumer-centric ecosystem. We will deliver seamless, engaging, and personalised experiences, using the latest technology. This is how we will secure even better reach and stronger loyalty.

We have certain responsibilities in pursuing this strategy, don’t we?

Absolutely, as a media business, trust is our most important currency. Our unique position in society is built on it. We will fortify the trust that our audiences, advertisers, and communities have in us. We will do that by being transparent about our journalistic processes. We will continue to deliver verifiable and accurate facts in context, educating the younger generation. And we will handle everything – data, online security and products – with the greatest care.

So, what next? Do we have what it takes to succeed?

There is a great deal of opportunity in this. To succeed as a new company and execute our strategy, our greatest strength are our people. Because no company is better than the sum of the people who work there. And that’s why I’m incredibly eager to get started – because I have absolute faith that we have the very best people in place. With the team we have, Schibsted Media will become a playground for new ideas, solutions and innovation. And not least, free and independent journalism that makes a difference. We are about to change the Nordic media landscape and write new media history. It’s an exciting time to be in the business!

Schibsted is entering a new era. One company will become two. The media part of the company will be sold to the Tinius Trust, Schibsted’s largest shareholder.

By separating Schibsted’s media and marketplace businesses, we will unlock the full potential that lies in the different business areas. Letting them grow in separate environments with the best possible conditions will give them the best possible future.

On the journey ahead, both companies will bring along Schibsted’s long legacy of trust, innovation and societal commitment. 

The Schibsted brand and name will follow the media company, while the marketplace company, which also will include the growth and investment portfolio, is currently creating a new name and brand. Once the marketplace company has its new name and brand, this will be the visible owner of all marketplaces and venture companies in its portfolio. This includes companies like Finn, Blocket, DBA, Tori, Lendo and many more.

Official starting point

We are now in the middle of making this separation happen. On 22 March, Schibsted and the Tinius Trust signed an agreement stating that the trust will buy the media operations from Schibsted. This was the official starting point for the separation. The next big step is receiving shareholder approval at an Annual General Meeting, and completing the process to separate the companies. After that, the deal can be closed and Schibsted Media and Schibsted Marketplaces will be two separate companies. This is expected to take place during the second quarter. 

The media company will be eager to pursue its goal of becoming the leading media destination in the Nordics. With brands like VG, Aftonbladet, Aftenposten and SvD, the media part of Schibsted has been at the forefront of digitalisation and new business models. With a new focus on sports and entertainment, Schibsted Media will grow, not least in Sweden. AI and technology are other keys to success that have already made a mark in user experience and quality of content.

“Today’s signing takes us another step closer to launching Schibsted Media as a new company, continuing the journey to become the leading media destination in the Nordics. I’m excited to take Schibsted Media into this new phase, bringing our journalistic legacy into the future,” says EVP News Media, Siv Juvik Tveitnes.

Siv Juvik Tveitnes, EVP News Media, Schibsted.

The marketplace company will get a new CEO, as Schibsted’s Kristin Skogen Lund is stepping down. But the way ahead that has been established is still valid. The marketplaces are going through a verticalisation process where the different brands cooperate across countries in four main areas: Re-commerce, Mobility, Real Estate and Jobs. This is to create the next generation marketplaces where new user needs and behaviours will be met, the user experience will be smoother and the user journey will be supported in a more extended way.

In all these areas, sustainability also is a core value. To make the sustainable option the obvious choice is the common goal.

Kristin Skogen Lund, Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

“I have tremendous faith in the potential of our marketplaces and media, both from a business perspective and seeing the value they create in society. Today’s agreement is a testament to this strength and I am proud that we are now taking a significant leap in our transformation into two Nordic powerhouses that continue to touch the lives of millions of people on a daily basis,” said Kristin Skogen Lund.

Since its foundation, Schibsted has carried the torch for independent media and freedom of speech, keeping the public informed and empowered.

The free press is a fundamental cornerstone of a democratic society. At its best, journalism aims to close the gap between what citizens know and what they need to know about the world around them. Schibsted’s independent media houses reach millions of people daily. That reach comes with a responsibility to contribute to a democratic and transparent society by providing independent news and information and promoting freedom of speech.

Achieving a high level of trust in society requires trustworthy information – and it is up to the news media to provide it. At Schibsted’s media houses, this happens every day – by holding powerful people accountable, producing factual and reliable media content, and inviting people to see and understand a wide variety of lived experiences.

Journalism has no formal power, though. It is a searchlight used to uncover facts and examine and highlight different voices, values ​​and actors in society. And especially when it comes to abuse of power, it is an important tool to balance the voices that are not always heard.

Exposing inequality, putting pressure on politicians to act and ensuring that people’s voices are heard are the core activities of Schibsted’s media houses and collectively they represent a unique tool to empower people in their daily lives. For us, that means enlightening our readers and providing them with accessible, transparent, informative and balanced media content.

We often highlight the deep dives, the investigative journalism that uncovers power imbalance and wrongdoings – but the everyday journalism is equally important for a functioning society. Shining the light on issues that affect people in their everyday lives, and informing people about what’s happening around them is vital for a democratic society to work.

In a time when anyone can share their thoughts online with minimal restrictions, the role of independent media has become increasingly important.

Schibsted’s media houses are fearlessly independent in pursuing their journalistic mission. Our articles of association state that Schibsted’s shareholders must enable us to run our information operations in such a way that editorial freedom and integrity are fully ensured.

To be independent is a prerequisite for our media houses to inform and empower our readers in a credible way. We need our readers to trust that we are uninfluenced – by our owners, our stakeholders, or the government.

Our media houses have defined detailed in-house ethical guidelines on editorial matters. In Norway and Sweden, our legally responsible editors are accountable for any law infringements, and self-regulatory bodies have been established to uphold their respective codes of ethics. These self-regulatory bodies were founded on the principles of freedom of speech and independence and it’s possible for everyone (including readers) to report complaints.

To increase transparency and readers’ understanding of how editorial choices and decisions are made, some of our media houses have created blogs, websites and even podcasts that allow our editors and journalists to speak openly about the dilemmas they face when making editorial decisions.

It’s important for our readers to trust that they won’t be manipulated or misguided by our media houses. There’s a difference between objectivity and balance – democratic and independent journalism must be balanced and fair.

Schibsted’s editorial leaders are seasoned professionals with years of experience in capturing important news stories and bringing them to our various reader communities. We embed editorial controls to ensure the accuracy and integrity of our news.

Swedish publicity rules

Norwegian ethical standards for the press

Schibsted Future Report is on its way on the 2023 Nordic road show. Next stop is at Digs in Trondheim April 20. Join us to learn how to secure innovation within a company, how Aftenposten’s synthetic voice is making news available to more people – and meet one of the founders behind the success startup Nomo.

”It will really be great to be back at Digs. We had a super nice event there last year, and we hope that everyone who wants to hear which trends we in Schibsted are interested in will come to this after work event,” says Schibsted Future Report editor Ann Axelsson.

Sign up for the event here!

Future Report is our annual trend outlook where we dive into themes within tech, people and business. It’s written by our own Schibsted people, and we also share some stories about companies in our family – and things we do.

Innovation in tough times

The event theme is ”Innovation in tough times” and in Trondheim you will meet some of the Future Report contributors, like our Chief Data and Technology Officer, Sven Størmer Thaulow. He will give you the recipe for how to secure innovation.  You can read the full article at the Future Report site.

Sven will also discuss the latest AI trends with Lena Beate Pedersen, Project Manager at Aftenposten who has led the job to create a synthetic voice for the newspaper. Now all written news are also available as speech, this is her article in the report.

We are very happy to have Audun Solwang on stage. He is the acoustician who saw the need to reduce noise to simplify podcasts and broadcasts. Audun is one of the founders behind the success startup Nomono, which is part of the Schibsted family. Recently Nomono won the 2023 innovation award at the tech conference SXSW in Austin. Audun will share his and Nomono’s journey and what lays ahead.

Last but not least – our Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Sumeet Singh Patpatia will point out the importance of empowering all kinds of people to succeed with real innovation – No human should be left behind.