Celebrating the Boards Shaping the Future: Announcing the Winners of deb. Board Awards 2025
At deb., we believe something simple but powerful: strong boards build strong companies, and strong companies build a stronger society.
This belief is what led us to create the deb. Board Awards, a new initiative designed to spotlight the boards and board members who are redefining what modern, human and courageous governance looks like. From the very first round of nominations, it became clear how much exceptional work is being done across Swedish boardrooms. We saw bold decisions, long-term strategic thinking and real, measurable impact taking shape within organisations.
And one trend became impossible to ignore during the process: the most transformative governance today is created by teams, not individuals.
This year’s awards reflect exactly that.
Board Achievement of the Year 2025: Nelly Group
The jury has selected the board of Nelly Group as the winner of the Board Achievement of the Year 2025, a recognition of one of the most impressive strategic transformations in Swedish business this year.
Nelly’s board has taken the company from decline to profitable growth through:
sharp strategic focus
strong governance and clarity in direction
deep, trust-based collaboration with the CEO
long-term commitment to assortment, marketing and customer value
courage to support difficult decisions
stability during a multi-year transformation
Active customers have grown consistently for the first time in years, margins have strengthened, and the company stands today as a benchmark for modern e-commerce leadership and an example of what effective board–management partnership can achieve.
The jury highlights Nelly’s board as a team that demonstrates courage, discipline and long-term ownership thinking, values that lie at the core of modern governance.
Finalists 2025: Storytel & Apotea
Alongside the winner, two boards stood out for their impact during the year:
Storytel – recognised for strong strategic direction and meaningful support in the launch of the company’s 2028 strategy. The board has contributed broad expertise and professionalism that strengthened the company’s continued development.
Apotea – acknowledged for enabling one of the year’s most notable IPOs through excellent preparation, clear governance and high quality in execution. Their work resulted in a successful listing with broad public ownership.
These finalists reflect the high standard of governance we see emerging across Swedish companies, boards that dare to act, listen, learn and lead.
deb.ut of the Year 2025: Camilla Wallin
Alongside the Board Achievement of the Year, we also celebrate the rising board talents who are already shaping the future of governance. deb.ut of the Year recognises new board members who make a meaningful impact early on, not by chance, but through clarity, courage and a values-driven approach to leadership.
This year’s deb.ut of the Year is Camilla Wallin.
Camilla has quickly distinguished herself as a powerful and trusted voice in the boardroom. Her contribution is defined by structure, strategic clarity and a deep commitment to people. She creates psychological safety, strengthens culture and direction, and brings the commercial sharpness needed to turn insight into action.
Finalists:
• Karin Bjerde – for her strategic precision, operational experience and values-based leadership.
• Nejra Celik – for her digital expertise, transformative mindset and ability to challenge with purpose.
Together, they represent the next generation of board leadership: sharp, human, collaborative and courageous.
Why These Awards Matter
The deb. Board Awards are not simply about recognition, they are about raising the standard for what great governance looks like in practice.
They matter because they celebrate:
Courage in decision-making
Long-term thinking over short-term convenience
Diversity of thought
Learning as a natural part of board work
Leaders who lift others
Boards that create real, measurable impact
They shine a light on the competencies and behaviours that build resilient, future-proof organisations.
And they inspire others to follow.
Thank You
To all nominees, finalists and winners: thank you for raising the bar and showing what modern governance can achieve.
To everyone who submitted nominations: your engagement is a reminder of the power we unlock when we spotlight excellence and lift each other.
And to the entire deb. community: this is your movement. This is your change. Let’s keep shaping the future of board work, together.
