Marcus Wandt heads Saab's new group function for strategy and technology

People and appointments at Saab, the Swedish defence group: Marcus Wandt takes over as Senior Vice President at the head of the newly created group function “Group Strategy and Technology”. The company aims to expand its strategic position with this unit. The focus is on corporate strategy and key technology areas, as well as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures.

From Saab test pilot to space

Before joining Saab, Wandt was an operational pilot in the Swedish Air Force; at the group, he started as chief test pilot in Linköping. On 15 June 2017, he flew the Gripen E for the first time, and in 2018 he led the first test of its firing capability with the Iris-T missile. In September 2020, he was also in the cockpit when the Brazilian Gripen E (F-39) took off on its maiden flight.

As an ESA astronaut, Wandt was part of a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024. Most recently, he held the role of Chief Innovation Officer at Saab and was responsible for the airborne tests to which Helsing subjected its AI-based assistance system Centaur. Wandt stressed at the time that in future it would “no longer be a given that a pilot can prevail against an AI in air combat” – after only a few flight hours, the artificial intelligence had reached an experience base of decades.

Wandt takes up his new leadership role on 1 November 2025. Saab CEO Micael Johansson explained the choice:

Technology research and partnerships are strategic priorities for Saab. Marcus has an exceptional track record in technology and innovation and is at the same time a strong and visionary leader.— Micael Johansson, CEO of Saab

Wandt was seen in public again in Linköping only a few days ago: alongside Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, he showed President Volodymyr Zelensky what the Gripen E can do as part of a letter of intent.