Jonas Karlsson

Senior Internal Communications Leader | Strategy, Transformation & Communicative Leadership
Malmö, SE.

About

A highly accomplished Senior Internal Communications Leader with over 20 years of experience driving strategic communication, complex transformations, and communicative leadership across global organizations like IKEA and Tetra Pak. Specializing in translating intricate operational models into clear, actionable narratives, Jonas empowers leaders to effectively navigate change and foster purpose-driven cultures. His expertise in strategic planning, content production, and stakeholder engagement is ideally suited to mission-critical environments, ensuring organizational alignment and successful adoption of new initiatives.

Work

Nexer Enterprise Applications Worklife
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Project Leader – Microsoft 365 (Modern Work & Communication)

Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Leading communication and adoption within Microsoft 365 and modern workplace projects for Nordic clients, building engagement strategies for digital transformation.

Highlights

Developed and implemented communication and engagement strategies for new digital ways of working across Nordic clients, driving adoption of Microsoft 365.

Designed internal narratives, leadership messaging, and comprehensive communication packs to facilitate successful digital workplace transformations.

Facilitated strategic workshops with leadership, HR, IT, and communication teams to align on communication priorities and strengthen communicative leadership.

Strengthened communicative leadership capabilities within client organizations, ensuring effective message delivery and engagement during digital change initiatives.

Clever Communication & Change Consulting Öresund AB
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Founder & Communication Consultant

Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Founded and led a communication consultancy, providing strategic internal, change, and leadership communication support to diverse organizations.

Highlights

Advised executive leaders on critical communication strategies during periods of significant organizational change, ensuring clarity and stakeholder alignment.

Designed bespoke communication strategies, compelling narratives, and impactful content to enhance organizational communication maturity.

Supported organizations in building robust communication frameworks and ways of working, fostering improved internal engagement.

Successfully managed client engagements while simultaneously holding corporate leadership roles, demonstrating strong entrepreneurial and time management skills.

Ingka Group (IKEA Services AB)
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Business Transformation Leader – Communication & Change

Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Drove communication and change management for Ingka's global SAP S/4HANA and Ariba implementation across 30+ markets.

Highlights

Developed and executed internal communication and change strategies for a global SAP S/4HANA and Ariba implementation across 30+ markets.

Produced high-impact messaging, strategic narratives, leadership materials, and comprehensive communication kits to support large-scale business transformation.

Advised senior leaders on effective communicative leadership practices during a high-paced, complex global transformation, ensuring consistent messaging.

Translated intricate process and data topics into clear, accessible communication for thousands of co-workers, facilitating understanding and adoption of new operating models.

Inter IKEA Systems Services AB
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Process & Transformation Communication Leader

Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Orchestrated communication strategy and engagement for IKEA’s new global Operating Model, driving clarity and alignment.

Highlights

Developed compelling narratives that translated complex process, capability, and data shifts into human-centric terms for a global audience.

Built robust communication frameworks and comprehensive toolkits, empowering leaders and communication networks to effectively disseminate information.

Strengthened functional alignment and enhanced communicative leadership across the organization, fostering a cohesive approach to the new operating model.

Strategically managed engagement for a new global operating model, ensuring widespread understanding and buy-in among diverse stakeholders.

IKEA Food (IKEA of Sweden & Inter IKEA)
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Communication & Learning Lead – Digital Development

Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Led internal communication, storytelling, and user engagement for digital development initiatives, driving adoption for 20,000+ co-workers.

Highlights

Orchestrated internal content creation, leadership communication, and intranet material development to support digital development initiatives.

Developed and executed global communication and learning strategies, facilitating the successful rollout of new digital tools across the organization.

Enabled over 20,000 co-workers to understand and adopt new digital tools and processes, significantly enhancing digital literacy and operational efficiency.

Designed and implemented engaging storytelling approaches to demystify complex digital transformations, fostering a positive user experience.

IKEA Food Services AB
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Change Manager – Global PLM Implementation

Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Designed and executed a global communication and training strategy for a PLM rollout across 32 markets, achieving high adoption.

Highlights

Designed and implemented a global communication and training strategy for a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) rollout across 32 international markets.

Led interactive workshops, hands-on learning sessions, and provided dedicated leadership communication support, ensuring comprehensive user preparedness.

Achieved one of IKEA Food’s most successful adoption journeys for a major system implementation, demonstrating exceptional change management capabilities.

Managed complex stakeholder engagement across multiple regions to ensure successful system integration and user proficiency.

IKEA Industry AB
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Strategic Communicator

Ängelholm, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Supported a major organizational transformation from Swedwood to IKEA Industry, developing key communication strategies.

Highlights

Provided strategic communication support for the significant organizational transformation from Swedwood to IKEA Industry.

Designed comprehensive communication strategies and key messaging for leadership, new processes, and evolving organizational culture.

Ensured consistent internal alignment and understanding during a critical period of corporate rebranding and structural change.

Tetra Pak AB
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Global Change Communications Manager

Lund, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Co-created a global Change Management Concept and trained over 250 champions, driving communication for quality leadership.

Highlights

Co-created and launched a global Change Management Concept, subsequently training over 250 change champions across the organization.

Developed and executed communication strategies for critical quality leadership and transformation programs, ensuring consistent messaging.

Facilitated widespread adoption of new quality standards and operational changes through targeted communication initiatives.

Enhanced organizational capacity for managing change by empowering a network of trained professionals globally.

IKEA Group
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Communication & Change Leader

Helsingborg, Skåne, Sweden

Summary

Led communication for major global digital infrastructure rollouts, including intranet and email system transformations.

Highlights

Spearheaded communication efforts for the global intranet rollout ("IKEA Inside"), ensuring successful adoption and user engagement across the organization.

Directed communication strategy for a global email transformation (Memo to Outlook), facilitating a smooth transition for thousands of employees.

Managed stakeholder communication and training initiatives to minimize disruption and maximize efficiency during critical IT infrastructure changes.

Developed engaging content and support materials that significantly contributed to the successful implementation of new digital platforms.

Education

Lund University
Lund, Skåne, Sweden

Master

Strategic Communication

Mid Sweden University
Sundsvall, Västernorrland, Sweden

Bachelor of Science

Economics, English, Law

State University of New York
New York, NY, United States of America

Diploma

PR & Journalism

Languages

Swedish
English
German

Certificates

Leading Transformations

Issued By

Macquarie University

Storytelling & Influencing

Issued By

Macquarie University

Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Issued By

LinkedIn Learning

Brand Management

Issued By

edX

Generative AI for Leaders

Issued By

LinkedIn Learning

Skills

Strategic Communication

Internal Communication Planning, Narrative Development, Storytelling, Business-Driven Communication Strategies, Crisis Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication Strategy.

Leadership Communication

Coaching Leaders, Communicative Leadership Practices, Leadership Messaging, Dialogue Support, Workshop Facilitation.

Change Management

Communication for Large-Scale Transformation, Translating Complex Operating Models, Digitalization Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Change Readiness.

Content & Channel Management

Writing, Editing, Intranet Publishing, Video Briefs, Photo Direction, Agency Collaboration, Channel Ecosystem Management, SharePoint, Teams, Newsletters.

Digital Transformation

Microsoft 365 Adoption, Modern Workplace, SAP S/4HANA, Ariba, PLM Implementation, Digital Tools Adoption.

Organizational Culture & Engagement

Connecting People to Mission and Strategy, Creating Clarity in Complex Environments, Collaborative Working Style, Culture Building.