OREANDA-NEWS. Olle Wijk, Executive Vice President and Head of Sandvik's Group R&D, will retire as of 30 April 2016, at the age of 65. As of 1 January 2016, Olle Wijk will no longer be a member of the Group Executive Management, but will act as Group Senior Advisor, reporting to President and CEO, Bj?rn Rosengren.

Olle Wijk joined Sandvik in 1980 and has held several senior positions within the Group over the years. He has been a member of the Group Executive Management team since 2014.

"I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the devoted job performed by Olle Wijk during many years. His contributions are substantial and his strategic and innovative direction will be the guiding star for our innovation activities also in the future", says Sandvik’s President and CEO, Bjorn Rosengren.

As of 1 January 2016, the Business Area Presidents will drive R&D matters in the Group Executive Management.

Sandvik is a high-tech and global engineering group offering advanced products and services that enhance customer productivity, profitability and safety. We hold world-leading positions in selected areas – tools for metal cutting, equipment and tools for the mining and construction industries, stainless materials, special alloys, metallic and ceramic resistance materials as well as process systems. In 2014, the Group had about 47,000 employees and sales of about 89 billion SEK in more than 150 countries.