background & experience

Your partners from clarity to impact

Ready to unlock your business potential? Bearing 45 does tailored consulting & interim management solutions.

Bearing 45 partners with business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to drive rapid impact in critical moments of growth and innovation 


Together, we tackle your toughest strategic and operational challenges. Our Partnership Models—from Business acceleration sprints to Advisory on Demand—are all tailored to bridge your gap between end-to-end strategy and high-impact implementation, led by senior expert consultants.


With decades of expertise from the client and consultancy side, we partner with brands and consulting firms. Our hands-on models mean we quickly turn insights to actions, always focusing on your time to value.

Market intelligence

We help you challenge status quo by identifying unmet customer needs, untapped business opportunities and operating models

Strategy & Concept

We co-create business cases, proof of concepts and roadmaps, to unleash market innovation and operational momentum

Technology & Insights

We continuously bridge data and insights, powering human capabilities for maximum value and precision

Hands-on leadership

We actively co-pilot your strategic priorities, working as an integrated partner to drive progress and impact

OUR PROMISE

We're in it together

commitment

As a leader, you've seen it before: Strategies that fail to deliver, initiatives that lose momentum and a disconnect between planning and execution.


Often, this happens when strategies are developed in a black box, disconnected from the realities of your organization. Even the best ideas get lost in translation, failing to bridge the gap between vision and reality.


We understand these challenges. Operating at the intersection of business, brand and technology, we know that real progress requires more than just reports.

That’s why we work side-by-side with you and your teams, decoding and clarifying your path forward to ensure buy-in and ownership. Our Partnership Models are tailored to fit your business life cycle, to identify new opportunities or optimize in times of change. 


Our commitment to co-pilot your greatest business challenges is reflected in our commercial model, where we also offer the option of Joint Ventures and performance based compensation. 



Experience

16

Industries

80

Brands

80%

International

+4000

Programs & projects

Your business partners

Daniel Askergren

GROWTH & COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT | SENIOR ADVISORY & LEADERSHIP

  • Capabilities

    Business direction: Corporate & Commercial strategy, Product design & development, Sales leadership, Brand & Marketing, Digital innovation & operations 

    Partnerships & Engagement: Project & Program leadership, Stakeholder management, Relationship building, Risk management, Portfolio management

    Operations: Consultancy leadership, Organizational development, Leadership development, Change management, M&As: Due diligence & post-merger integration

    Finance: P&L managementForecasting & analysis, Pricing strategy & optimization, Deal structuring, M&A valuation  

  • Industry experience

    FMCG: Food & Beverages

    Financial services: Commercial & retail banking, Private equity, Payment processors, Fintech, Insurance  

    Manufacturing: Construction & infrastructure, Materials technology, Electronics, Forestry & gardening equipment 

    Professional services: Management consulting, IT, Legal, Design, Adverstising, Media  

    Real estate: Commercial development, Private housing

    Retail: Consumer electronics, eCommerce, Groceries, Store development     

    Technology: IT infrastructure, Software and applications, Cloud computing, SaaS, Data & analytics, AI, Telecom    

    Transportation & Logistics: Automotive & Mobility, Public transport  

    Other: Gaming, Non-profit organizations, Education    

  • Resume

    2020- HMN Works/Bearing 45

    2024 Lynxeye

    2021-2023 Valtech

    2020-2021 If Insurances Nordics

    2019-2020 Next State

    2017-2019 INGO Stockholm/Brand union

    2016-2017 Open Communication 

    2015-2016 Ottoboni/Nordic Morning 

    2011-2015 Nord DDB

    2009-2010 Minnesota Communication

    2006-2011 Fältman & Malmén/DraftFCB/ Norweb

    2003-2006 SVID, Swedish Industrial Design Foundation

    2000-2003 FutureLab

  • Education

    1996-2001

    Master of Science in Business and Economics, Stockholm University


    2006

    Strategic Planning, Berghs School of Communication


    2001 

    Intellectual Property law & Marketing, Berghs School of Communication

For over two decades, Daniel has partnered with 50 diverse brands, from global industry leaders to local entrepreneurs. 


With vast experience from Commercial Leadership roles at renowned Nordic and global consultancies, Daniel specializes in driving overall business growth and building key client partnerships. He leads and coaches clients and cross-functional teams through the complexities of shifting business and brand strategies, emerging technologies and evolving customer behavior. 


With his expertise in commercial strategy and growth, Daniel helps leaders build resilient businesses by translating customer and market intelligence into distinct competitive advantages. He leads and guides management and teams in creating a more curious and customer-centric strategy that unlocks innovation, business performance and market value.

Susanne Blomberg

BRAND & MARKETING |
MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING

  • Capabilities

    Strategy & Growth: Business strategy & management, Product development, Go-to-market, Brand & marketing strategy, Brand portfolio management, Digital strategy & management, Sales strategy & management

    Operations and finance: Organizational

    development, Group management, Project management

    Finance: Budgeting & financial steering, Pricing strategy & optimization, Financial forecasting & analysis   

  • Industry experience

    Food & Beverages: Dairy Products, Baked goods, Snacks, Organic & Health foods  

    Real Estate: Residential construction, Real estate development, Real estate brokerage  

    Electronics: Consumer electronics

    Healthcare: Over-the-counter drugs  

    Wholesale Trade/Distribution: Electronics wholesalers  

  • Resume

    2020- HMN Works/Bearing 45

    2025- Viatris

    2022-2024 Rexel/Gigamedia

    2021-2022 Lantmännen 

    2020-2021 GSK Sweden

    2015-2019 SSM

    2009-2014 LG Electronics 

    2007-2009 Arla foods

    2000-2007 Kraft foods

  • Education

    2025

    Mini MBA, Brand management


    2024

    Mini MBA, Marketing


    2020

    Sustainability of the World

    Stockholm University


    1995-2000 

    Master, Business Administration

    Linköping University


    1998-1999

    Business/Managerial Economics

    The University of Freiburg


    1994-1995

    Université Catholique d'Angers

Susanne is a creative and driven marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in international markets, with a focus on consumer and professional goods.


She has a proven track record of product development, building strong brands, driving business growth and developing high-performing teams. 


Susanne has held various roles, including Marketing Director and management positions, with expertise in marketing leadership, brand management and interim management.


She is passionate about businesses with a clear focus on sustainability, brand distinctiveness and customer behaviour. 

OUR INSIGHT ENGINE

The AI Business Council

Meet our strategic sounding board. Since the spring of 2025, they are an augmented part of our daily operations, constantly pushing us forward in understanding the challenges of our prospects and clients.

A group of people are sitting around a table with a laptop.

The Council is based on five professional buyer archetypes – in Management, Entreprenurship, Business strategy, Sales, Brand & marketing and Digital development.


Representing distinct personalities and viewpoints, we have spent hundreds of hours training, testing, simulating and debating, refining  our own business and delivery models versus their professional challenges, pains and gains.

Our Council allows us to explore real-time obstacles for our ideal clients that never would be possible without AI and technology. 


Ultimately, the Council exists to strengthen our ability to be even more precise and insightful in every aspect of our client relationships.

Common Questions

Experience & Expertise

  • Do you specialize in any specific industries?

    Our clients come to us with a variety of challenges and our Partnerships Models are  tailored to solve them regardless of the sector. With experience across 80 brands in 16 industries, we bring cross-sector insights to every engagement, including B2C and B2B.   


    Our experience includes:


    Construction, Education, Electronics, Financial services, FMCG, Food & Beverages, Gaming, Manufacturing, Non-profit organizations, Pharmaceuticals, Professional services, Real estate, Retail, Technology, Transportation & Logistics, Wholesale Trade/Distribution

  • Do you work with international clients?

    Yes, we've successfully partnered with clients and teams across the globe.


    ​We bring extensive international experience to every engagement. Collectively, we've worked on assignments for brands with a global footprint or Nordic operations, with this experience making up approximately 80% of our professional careers. This background has equipped us with a proven process for remote collaboration and the ability to manage the complexities of international assignments, from time zones to cultural nuances. 

Way of Working

  • Do you have a specific collaboration model?

    Our clients operate in fast-paced environments. Our collaborative and flexible model is therefor tailored to your specific business, to balance potential opportunities with the risk of disrupting operational efficiency.


    Insights: Are you getting the most out of your business strategy and operations? We work with you to understand your goals, challenges, market and culture. Through workshops, interviews and market data, we gather the insights needed to guide your next strategic or operational decisions. This can serve as a focused pre-study or part of a larger engagement.    


    Strategy and Concept: Increase internal buy-in and stakeholder engagement. We translate insights into clear strategic directions and actionable plans, outlining the steps needed to achieve the objectives.     


    Actions: We guide your  stakeholders and teams through the implementation process, providing support and facilitating ongoing iterations to ensure successful execution and results. This might include regular check-ins, progress reviews and collaborative problem-solving sessions.     


    In addition, we also use established frameworks in areas like innovation, design and product development, adapting them to your specific needs and context.  

  • Do you offer team-based consulting?

    While our core model is lean and focused, we provide strategic, embedded consulting with a senior leader placed directly within your team. 


    We also have access to a network of specialists in areas like UX and design, communication, technology and AI development, allowing us to scale our expertise when needed.    

Services & Engagement

  • Do you offer different Partnership Models?

    Yes, we offer flexible engagement models tailored to your specific needs and objectives: 


    Project-based: For rapid, targeted impact on specific challenges. Need to clarify a business strategy, revitalize a stalled key client relationship, or map a critical market opportunity? Our project-based engagements deliver expert execution on singular initiatives, structured for efficient delivery within a defined scope.       


    Business Acceleration Partner: Our customized, Plug & Play 90-day acceleration sprint focused on your most critical initiatives. Designed to boost your business strategy execution, business development, brand strategy, marketing or sales.       


    Interim management: Temporary leadership positions, typically with a 6-12 month timeframe. We bridge your critical leadership gaps by leading urgent initiatives, stabilize operations or secure smooth operations in times of change.     


     Fractional management: Senior management expertise tailored to your needs, typically at a 0.5 FTE commitment. Get ongoing support and strategic guidance without the investment of a full-time hire.        


    Advisory-on-Demand: Gain an essential outside-in perspective and consistent senior strategic guidance tailored for your new business. We empower small enterprises and start-ups to refine your business concept, effectively prepare for investor engagements and navigate critical growth challenges with more confidence.      


  • What is your pricing structure?

    We offer various pricing models to suit different situations:


     Project-based fees: Our fixed pricing model for well-defined projects with clear scopes and deliverables, starting with a minimum engagement of one week.     


     Fixed-term agreements: For Interim Management roles, we typically use agreements with a predetermined duration (e.g., 6-12 months) and a corresponding fixed fee or monthly payment schedule.       


    Fractional Management-fees: Retainer agreements with a fixed monthly fee for a set number of days per month.       


     Performance-based fees & Equity partnership: For engagements where success is clearly measurable and aligned with specific business outcomes, we offer flexible compensation models that share both the risks and rewards. This can include performance-based fees tied to achieving pre-defined targets, or equity-based partnerships where we become invested in your long-term success.       


    Advisory-on-Demand, subscription fee: For ongoing access to senior strategic guidance, we offer flexible monthly or quarterly subscriptions. This provides a minimum of 4 hours of senior advisory contacts per month, ensuring predictable access to expert insights without the cost and commitment of a full-time consultant.    

Trust & Policies

  • How do you ensure the quality of your work?

    With vast operational experience, we always make sure the specific project or assignment has a clear description of the scope and expexted deliverables. Our process also ensures ongoing iterations and follow-ups, securing that we in an early phase can act on unforeseen changes to the original scope.

  • How do you handle intellectual property rights?

    We understand the importance of protecting your intellectual property. We proactively discuss IP ownership at the start of every assignment and are happy to sign non-disclosure agreements to ensure confidentiality. We typically grant you full ownership of all deliverables created during the assignment and are also open to customizing agreements to meet your specific needs.

  • What are your data security, AI and privacy policies?

    We take a proactive approach to data security and privacy, with policies and procedures that ensure your confidential information is protected. This includes strict guidelines for the responsible use of AI, and our internal platform the AI Business Council. We ensure your data is not used for training our models and we employ secure data storage and encryption methods.