Transport company. Rubber stamp. Discussion circle. Yes, these are some of the less than flattering descriptions often ascribed to the Riksdag, or Swedish Parliament. Are they true? Well, perhaps they stretch the reality of our elected officials a bit. But what is true is that very few parliamentary votes during the past term of office have come out of left field.

The EU directive for electronic communication, the ”Telecoms Reform Package”, was pushed through in November 2009. But why have 750 new regulations emerged on the electronic communication market, despite the fact that no major political parties are going to the polls on the issue of market regulation of the telecoms sector? And why is it so difficult to influence (non)political decisions on market regulation?

It’s often said that all employees in an organisation are important ambassadors. The major impact of social media in recent years, however, has brought matters to head. Via the internet, your colleagues are just one click away from the surrounding world – and the number of spokespersons within your company with uncertain status and agendas has thus grown exponentially.

The current political analysis leading up to last autumn’s parliamentary election is largely based on the fact that today’s political blocs are modern manifestations of the Hat and Cap Parties that dominated the Swedish political scene during the last half of the 18th century. At the same time, we shouldn’t forget that Sweden’s political system is actually designed so that we can form strong minority governments and that strong, multi-party political blocs working in coalition are alien to our system.

MSLGROUP are further strengthening their public affairs team with a new competence within media advisory field. To be based in Brussels, Serge Vanbockryck has been recruited as the new director responsible for the PR and Media Practice within the Belgian office.

Anna Grönlund Krantz and Sebastian Cederschiöld, both communication advisors at JKL, have been appointed partners in JKL Group. Anna Grönlund Krantz is the new managing director of JKL in Stockholm and Sebastian Cederschiöld started JKL’s EU operations together with Henrik Bernitz.

JKL Group and Nordic Brand Academy (NBA) initiates a co-operation to jointly offer clients advisory services and to develop their offerings in the areas of branding and reputation. Nordic Brand Academy is a science-based education and advisory consultancy.

Anna Grönlund Krantz will become the new Managing Director of JKL Stockholm. She joined JKL as a consultant in 2006, having previously served as a Member of Parliament. Anna Grönlund Krantz succeeds Åsa Jamal, who is leaving her consultant role after twelve years to take over as Director of Communications at TV4.

Julie Margaret Brodtkorb has been appointed Managing Director for JKL in Oslo as of January 1 2012. Brodtkorb has a solid political background within the Norwegian Conservative Party and has held roles including Communications Manager and later as Chief of Staff.

Johan Björkstén from the Chinese Eastwei MSL visited JKL on April 12th. Like JKL and MSL Nordic, Eastwei MSL is part of MSL Group’s global network.

Lars G Nordström – with his many years of executive experience in Nordic trade and industry – will join JKL’s network as Industrial Advisor. Previous positions held by Mr Nordström include CEO of Nordea, 2002-07, and CEO of Posten and Posten Norden, 2008-11.

Ulf Nilsson, Partner and Managing Director at JKL in Gothenburg, is leaving JKL after 10 years to pursue new opportunities. Henrik Nilsson, currently a consultant at JKL, has been appointed new Managing Director as of 1 January 2011.

Today, MSLGROUP’s new brand will be launched in 22 countries around the globe. MSLGROUP is one of the world’s five largest communications networks, with over 2,500 employees.

More internationally anchored offers, growth in the Nordics and continued recruitment of the market’s best advisors. This is the mandate for the new management duo – Maria Grimberg and Peter Steere – that will take over as CEOs of JKL Group, part of the global MS&LGroup, on May 1st 2010. Founders Anders Kempe and Anders Lindberg will continue to be active in the company, but from different platforms.

Mads Christian Esbensen takes over from Ditte Kirstein Brammer as general manager of JKL’s office in Copenhagen. Mr Esbensen is one of Denmark’s leading advisors in the fields of public affairs and strategic communication, and will lead JKL’s continued expansion efforts in Denmark. The Copenhagen office’s management group also includes Malin Petersson and Nikolaj Bøgh.

Publicis Groupe combines MS&L Worldwide, Publicis Consultants and Publicis Events to create a powerful public relations and events network, MS&L Group

As of this date, Cecilie Ditlev-Simonsen is the acting CEO of JKL’s Oslo office. She succeeds Per Høiby, who is leaving JKL.

Lena Smedsaas, commentator on domestic politics at TV4, will join JKL as a consultant at the end of the year. Lena Smedsaas is one of Sweden’s most experienced political journalists and has, among other things, led all of TV4’s party leader debates over the past ten years. She has been with TV4 since its start and previously worked as a journalist for TT (Swedish Central News Agency) and Göteborgsposten.