In December, Kajsa Sjösvärd was appointed acting CEO of Falun2027. Now, the board of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2027 has officially named her CEO.
– It is a major challenge to build for a championship that is coming so soon — but the strength of our growing organization and the positive signals we are receiving from outside show that we are on our way toward a fantastic World Ski Championships, says Sjösvärd.
Kajsa Sjösvärd joined the Falun 2027 organization just over a year ago, initially in the role of Head of Security. She has played a central part in building the organization ahead of next year’s major winter sports event at Lugnet.
Since December 2025, Sjösvärd has served as acting CEO and has since led the planning work for the World Ski Championships.
– During her time as acting CEO, Kajsa has demonstrated clear leadership and a strong ability to unite the organization and drive the work forward. The board is very pleased that she is now taking on the role of CEO and will continue leading the work toward delivering the 2027 Nordic World Ski Championships, says Roza Güclü Hedin, chair of the board of Falun 2027.
With nine and a half months remaining until the opening of Falun 2027 on February 24, preparations and organizational work are moving at full speed. Sjösvärd is currently in Slovenia for meetings with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
Next week, a large delegation from FIS will travel to Falun for a Coordination Group meeting. This will be the second-to-last in a series of regular check-ins that have taken place since Falun was awarded hosting rights for next year’s championships.
– With only nine and a half months remaining until the World Championships, we must dare to prioritize our key focus areas and assemble our championship puzzle with precision. The legacy of the most recent FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim 2025 creates both expectations and motivation — now it is about building safely, thinking wisely, and making the decisive decisions at the right time, says Sjösvärd.
What attracted you to the challenge of becoming CEO of the Falun 2027?
– I am driven by pace, clear demands, and the opportunity to lead major assignments — being part of creating a World Ski Championships on home soil is something truly unique. This is about more than competitions; we are building a campfire for celebration, inclusion, and putting Dalarna in the spotlight. I look forward to standing there together with employees, volunteers, and partners, looking out over the celebration at Lugnet and across the city, and seeing people of all ages come together in joy and community — that is the feeling we are building for. When it comes to the sporting side, I feel completely confident that we will deliver competitions of the absolute highest class, says Sjösvärd.
Elin Hietanen, who previously served as acting Head of Security, has now been appointed Head of Security.