Bona Names Former Nolato Head as President, CEO

Bona has announced that Christer Wahlquist will lead the company into its next chapter.

The former head of Nolato will move into his new role as Bona’s president and CEO on Jan. 1.

Wahlquist will join the company on Oct. 1 as a consultant. The three-month transition period will allow him to work closely with the board, group management and teams across the organization, while contributing to Bona’s strategic planning processes before formally assuming the position.

“Christer brings extensive experience leading and growing a global company, along with a deeply collaborative approach to leadership,” says Bona board chair Kerstin Lindell. “His track record of bringing people together, strengthening operations and supporting long-term growth, combined with his emphasis on culture and teamwork, aligns well with Bona’s values.”

Wahlquist brings more than 30 years of experience at Nolato, a global business-to-business company serving industries including medical technology. For approximately 20 years, he helped build Nolato’s medical segment into a business area generating approximately $580 million US in annual revenue.

He later served as Nolato’s president and CEO for more than 10 years. During his tenure, the company grew from about $421 million US to $1.05 billion US in annual revenue while further strengthening its global position.

Wahlquist will succeed Lidija Broström, Bona’s senior vice-president of marketing, who has served as interim president and CEO since August 2025.

“I look forward to joining Bona, a company with a strong heritage, a respected global brand and a clear commitment to quality,” he says. “I believe long-term success is built through teamwork and by making the most of the knowledge and experience within an organization. I look forward to getting to know Bona’s people, customers and business, and to contributing to the company’s continued growth and development.”

Bona is a global, family-owned company that supplies products for installing, renovating, maintaining and restoring premium floors, including wood, tile, vinyl, resilient, rubber and laminate. Founded in 1919, and headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, the company operates in 90 countries through 17 subsidiaries, 70 distributors and four production sites.