As of the 1st of December 2024, Douglas Hellström has been appointed as the new CEO for NOAQ. Douglas, who joined NOAQ in 2022 as Sales Manager, will take over the role from Sigurd Melin, the company’s founder.
“It is an incredible honor to take over as CEO of a company that has been built up over three decades with so much commitment, passion, and hard work” – says Douglas Hellström. “I have enormous respect for the work Sigurd has put in to take the company where it is today, and it is an honor to build on the strong foundation he has created.”
“It is our fantastic team who are the engine at the company, and their daily efforts are what drives the business forward. With their competence and commitment together with our strong partners, both in Sweden and around the world, I feel confident about NOAQ’s future and fulfilling our vision to create a more flood-resilient society globally.”
Sigurd Melin will continue to work in NOAQ, together with Douglas, but focus more on product development and other business development issues related to his role as Chairman of the Board.
“This project started in 1993, when I had an idea for a mobile flood barrier that could be anchored by only the floodwater itself” – says Sigurd Melin. “From the beginning the plan was to sell the idea to a company in the flood industry. However, when it turned out that there was no such industry, I had to step out of the role of inventor and start my own company. It took time to establish the business, but now it is going very well.”
“But after more than 30 years at the helm, it felt most reasonable to have a generational change. And when I saw that one of our employees had exactly the qualities that you look for when looking for a new CEO, it was just a matter of timing. This meant that we could promote from within, rather than hire externally. So, with Douglas as CEO, I feel that I can safely hand over the operational responsibilities to someone who is probably better in that role than myself.”
Download press release in pdf.
Photo: Sigurd Melin and Douglas Hellström outside NOAQ’s headquarters in Näsviken, Sweden.
Photo credit: NOAQ Flood Protection AB
