Lars Holmqvist

A native of Sweden, Lars Holmqvist is 61 years old and, at present, is based in Brussels where is the CEO of CLEPA the European automotive suppliers association. He was appointed to this position in 2004.

He has a degree in business administration from Lund University in Lund, Sweden, and a degree in chemical engineering from Helsingborg Technical College in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Holmqvist’s career in the automotive supplier industry began in 1976 when he joined chemicals supplier Henkel as executive director. Prior to this he was a captain in the Swedish army. In 1985 he was appointed managing director of a diesel technology company, Emission-steknik, which was acquired by Johnson Matthey in 1991. After the purchase, he became managing director of Johnson Mattey’s diesel engines unit. He joined the Scandinavian automotive suppliers association as managing director in 1996. In 1999, he became managing director of automotive components supplier, Konstruktions-Bakelit.

He is married to Laila and has two daughters, Anna and Caroline, and a son, Jacob.

When he has the time, he likes to visit the farmers markets to buy local products for a big family meal. If the weather is good and he is back home, the fresh foods are served outdoors at the family home in the picturesque setting of Hävang, southern Sweden.