Two new department heads at Swedish National Debt Office

Press release 4 April 2022

Today, Klas Granlund starts as the department head of Debt Management and Erika Färnstrand Damsgaard takes up the corresponding role for the Economic Analysis department.

 “It’s superb to be able to welcome two such highly qualified people to the Debt Office. With the extensive expertise they have within their respective areas, they will be contributing to the Debt Office’s continuous development,” says Debt Office Director General Karolina Ekholm.

Klas Granlund – new head of Debt Management

Directly prior to joining the Debt Office, Klas Granlund served as Director of the Market Analysis and Policy department at Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority) for over six years. He has worked with, among other things, analysis and policy issues in connection with financial stability, well-functioning markets, and consumer protection. In recent years, his work has focused on issues related to how the bond markets operate.

Granlund also has experience from the financial market. This includes a previous position in charge of bond trading at Handelsbanken.

 “Klas possesses a good combination of skills from which we will benefit greatly. He has worked with strategic policy issues but also has practical experience of bond-market trading,” says Karolina Ekholm.

“This is rewarding and exciting. Central government debt management is essential, and it is crucial that it functions well,” says Klas Granlund.

Erika Färnstrand Damsgaard – new head of Economic Analysis

Erika Färnstrand Damsgaard has a PhD in economics and was Head of Macroeconomic Research at the National Institute of Economic Research directly prior to joining the Debt Office. She is also a member of the Norwegian Ministry of Finance’s Advisory Panel on Fiscal Policy Analysis and, as commissioned by the Danish Ministry of Finance, recently led an expert panel that evaluated the Danish macroeconomic model MAKRO. She has previously worked at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics and was Deputy Director of Forecasting at the Swedish Ministry of Finance.

“I am very pleased that Erika has chosen to join the Debt Office. I have met her in other contexts, and she is proficient and highly qualified,” says Debt Office Director General Karolina Ekholm.

 “The Economic Analysis department provides the organisation with skilled economic analysis within all of the Debt Office’s areas of responsibility. This covers a wide range of
issues, which I find very exciting. I am pleased to now be at the Debt Office
and I look forward to leading the organisation further, together with all my talented
colleagues in the department,” says Erika Färnstrand Damsgaard

Press inquiries

Mats Lilja, press officer

The Debt Office's operations shall be characterized by an openness to the public and the media. The right of access to official business is a cornerstone of Swedish democracy.

Our press officer helps you get in touch with the right person so that you can get your questions answered quickly and easily. He can also provide you with material, answer comprehensive questions about our business and upcoming publications.

Mats Lilja, press officer
Press phone (office hours): +46(0)8-613 47 01, mobile +46(0)721-561 527
E-mail: Mats Lilja