Relais Group Plc, Stock Exchange Release, inside information
21 October 2025, 10:15 a.m. EEST
The Board of Directors of Relais Group Plc (“Relais”) has decided to appoint
Christian Johansson Gebauer as the company's new Chief Executive Officer.
Gebauer will assume the position no later than 19 January 2026. As announced
earlier in June 2025, Arni Ekholm, who has acted as CEO of Relais Group Plc
since 2015, has decided to retire on March 31, 2026, in accordance with the
terms of his CEO agreement. He will stay within the Group as a senior advisor
until his retirement.
Christian Johansson Gebauer has a strong track record of leading decentralized
organizations like Relais. His last role was at Ratos AB, where he ran the
business area Construction & Services. Using both organic growth and M&A,
Gebauer was able to increase the business area EBITA by 3.5x, from 400 to 1,400
MSEK. Furthermore, this impressive growth was achieved during a 5-year period
when the markets were affected not only by Covid, but also the Russian war on
Ukraine and the resulting market uncertainties. At Ratos, he has had
responsibility for six operating groups across all Nordic countries. In total,
his Business Area employed ca. 7,600 persons.
Christian Johansson Gebauer has extensive experience in M&A, having done
numerous transactions during his previous tenures. He shares our passion for the
automotive industry based on his previous work at both Toyota and McKinsey &
Company. Gebauer, 45 years old, is Swedish and has a Master of Science in
Industrial Engineering and Management from University of Linkoping.
Jesper Otterbeck, Chair of the Board of Relais Group Plc, says:
“Relais was listed on the Helsinki stock exchange in October 2019. Our core idea
is to be a sector-focused, competent compounder in the mobility aftermarket.
During the period from 2019 until 2024 we doubled our EBITA through a
combination of organic and M&A-driven growth. This year we have already carried
out four acquisitions, making Relais a group of related companies employing
almost 1,700 professionals in eight countries and having a proforma turnover of
over 400 MEUR. In this context I want to thank Arni warmly for his contribution
in building Relais into what it is today.
Relais aims to continue the growth journey going forward, and I am therefore
very happy that Christian is coming on board. I think he will fit very well into
the performance-oriented, decentralized organization we have built in the
company. I am convinced that his skillset and personality will make him an
excellent leader of Relais, and that his growth-focus will help us get even
better at capital allocation and EBITA growth going forward.“
“I am thrilled to assume the CEO role at Relais Group. The company represents a
true gem as a compounder in the mobility aftermarket, with significant untapped
growth potential. Relais Group is in a strong position to accelerate organic
growth and pursue further strategic M&A opportunities, building on the company's
solid foundation and proven capabilities in its chosen niche - a desired
foundation for any compounder. I look forward to driving profitable growth and
strengthening Relais Group's presence in capital markets beyond Finland,
starting with Sweden”, says Christian Johansson Gebauer.
“After my ten years at the helm of Relais Group it feels now great to welcome
Christian as my successor. Together with my colleagues, we have achieved more
than I could ever have imagined when I joined the Group in 2015. Christian has
exactly the right mix of competences and experience we need to continue to build
on the fantastic platform that Relais is today. I am sure he will excel as Group
CEO of Relais”, says Arni Ekholm, CEO of Relais Group Plc.
RELAIS GROUP PLC
Further information:
Jesper Otterbeck, Chair of the Board
Phone: +46 70 577 6477
E-mail: jesper.otterbeck@reservdelar.se
Arni Ekholm, CEO
Phone: +358 40 760 3323
E-mail: arni.ekholm@relais.fi
Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Principal media
Relais Group
Relais Group is a leading consolidator and acquisition platform on the
commercial vehicle aftermarket in Northern Europe. We have a sector focus in
vehicle life cycle enhancement and related services. We also serve as a growth
platform for the companies we own.
We are a profitable company seeking strong growth. We carry out targeted
acquisitions in line with our growth strategy and want to be an active player in
the consolidation of the aftermarket in our area of operation. Our acquisitions
are targeted at companies having a good strategic fit with our group companies.
Our net sales in 2024 were EUR 322.6 (2023: 284.3) million. So far during 2025,
we have completed four acquisitions. We employ approximately 1,700 professionals
in eight different countries. The Relais Group share is listed on the Main
Market of Nasdaq Helsinki with the stock symbol RELAIS.
www.relais.fi (https://relais.fi/en/)