Controlant adds Chief Services Officer and VP People and Culture to leadership team
Controlant Co-Founder Stefan Karlsson and Seasoned Customer Service Executive Vally Helgadottir Join To Fuel The Company's Growth.
Reykjavik and San Francisco (July 12, 2018) — Controlant, a leading provider of cold chain monitoring solutions for the food and pharmaceutical supply chains, today announced that Vally Helgadottir and Stefan Karlsson have joined its executive team as Chief Services Officer (CSO) and VP People and Culture, respectively.
In her new role as CSO, Helgadottir will be responsible for managing Controlant’s customer success program and its unique, high-velocity services model, including for 24/7 shipment monitoring and response and reverse logistics. As VP People and Culture, Karlsson will be responsible for the recruitment, growth and development of Controlant’s most important asset — its people — across its global presence. Karlsson, who is a Controlant co-founder and was previously the company’s COO, will be responsible for the growth and protection of Controlant’s unique corporate culture. Both Helgadottir and Karlsson will report directly to co-founder and CEO, Gisli Herjolfsson.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Vally and Stefan to the team,” said Herjolfsson. “Two of our primary goals in building a world-class enterprise technology company are to create an enviable company culture and to ensure the success of our customers worldwide, as well as the safety of patients and consumers. These two strategic hires will help take Controlant to the next level. Stefan’s experience in building and scaling corporate cultures at rapidly evolving companies will help Controlant achieve its aggressive recruiting goals. Vally’s extensive background in customer service and success within highly regulated industries will bring invaluable expertise to our team.”
Helgadottir is a seasoned customer success executive with more than 15 years of international pharmaceutical experience. Prior to Controlant, she was Department Manager, Customer Service, for Distica, Iceland’s largest pharmaceutical distributor. Previously, Helgadottir was Customer Service Manager for Medis, where she managed service and support for large international customers. In the U.S., she served on the agency side for three separate pharmaceutical agencies under the Publicis Group umbrella. Helgadottir holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from Reykjavik University, a Diploma in Quality Management from the University of Iceland, and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication, Learning and Design from Ithaca College.
Karlsson is a seasoned executive with more than 10 years of experience in the leadership field. He was previously a member of Controlant’s Board of Directors after serving in the COO role, where he led the company’s day-to-day operations, including executing the company’s business strategy and introducing new products to new markets. Prior to Controlant, Karlsson was Vice Chairman and CEO of Knattspyrnufelagid Valur, one of the most prestigious sports clubs in Iceland. Karlsson also participated in building up Vinnuföt, an Icelandic B2B service company distributing speciality workwear and personal protective equipment. Karlsson holds a Master in Business Administration from Reykjavik University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bifrost University in Iceland.
