background & experience

Your partners from clarity to impact

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

About

Bearing 45 partners with leaders, investors and entrepreneurs through every stage of your business lifecycle, from scaling up to major transformations. 


From business acceleration sprints to Advisory on Demand, our tailored strategic and operational management services are all designed to navigate complexity and boost your most critical business initiatives.


With decades of international experience, we partner with businesses and consulting firms, taking a holistic approach to quickly understand your unique culture, challenges and opportunities.

Insights

We help you challenge status quo by identifying untapped market opportunities, customer needs and operational models.

Strategy & Concept

We co-create objectives, proof-of-concepts and roadmaps, to unleash your business innovation and operational momentum.

Actions

We actively co-pilot your strategic priorities, working closely with your teams to drive tangible short and long-term results.

OUR PROMISE

We're in it together

Mission

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.

It takes collaboration, a deep understanding of your unique context and a commitment to spark a culture of curiosity and dialogue.


That’s why we work side-by-side with you and your team, decoding and clarifying your path forward to ensure buy-in and effective execution. We help you build consensus, foster ownership and ensure solutions that are both effective and resilient.


We bring clarity to your strategy, align your organization and help to boost your business to the next level.

Experience

16

Industries

80

Brands

80%

International

+5000

Programs & projects

Your Business Partners

Daniel Askergren

GROWTH & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

For over two decades, Daniel has partnered with 50 mainly international brands, from global industry leaders to local entrepreneurs. Working at renowned Nordic and global consultancies, he has led and coached clients and cross-functional teams through the complexities of shifting business strategies, emerging technologies and evolving customer behavior.


Focused on business strategy, growth and client acquisition, Daniel is driven by building resilient brands that leverage customer and market intelligence with distinct brand experiences. He guides organizations in building a curious and learning culture, combining it with actionable strategies for improved business know-how. 

  • Expertise

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

    Finance and operations: Budgeting & financial steering, Financial forecasting & analysis, Pricing strategy & optimization, Organizational development, M&As: Due diligence & post-merger integration

    Partner management: Project & Program management, Stakeholder management, Relationship building, Risk management

  • 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, Legal advisory, IT consulting

    Real estate development: 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

Susanne Blomberg

MARKETING & BRAND MANAGEMENT

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.

  • Expertise

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

  • Industry experience

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

    Construction & 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

    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

Our Council

Meet our AI-Powered Business Council. Since the fall of 2024, they are part of our daily operations, constantly pushing us forward in understanding the challenges of our prospects and clients.


Representing five professional buyer personas, each with distinct personalities – in Management, Business Strategy, Sales, Marketing and Digital Technology – we have spent hundreds of hours training, testing and debating around our own business and delivery model, their professional challenges and needs. Our Council allows us to explore real-time obstacles for our target groups that never would be possible without AI and technology.


Ultimately, they 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?

    After more than 80 brands in 16 industries, covering B2C and B2B, we see ourselves as truly business agnostic. To date, our experience includes:


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

  • Do you work with international clients?

    Yes, approximetely 80% of our previous roles have included Nordic or global operations, and we are happy to take on partnerships including remote assignments. 

Way of Working

  • Do you have a specific collaboration model?

    Our collaborative and transparent model is tailored to your specific business and organization and generally involves three key phases:


    Insights: We begin by working with you to gather information and conduct research to understand your goals, challenges, market and culture. This may involve workshops, interviews and collaborative analysis sessions.    


    Strategy and Concept: We translate insights into clear strategic directions and actionable plans, outlining the steps needed to achieve the objectives.    


    Actions: We guide your 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?

    We primarily work as indivudual consultants, but have access to a network of leading specialists in areas like customer and market research, UX and design, communication, technology and AI development.

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 projects 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 and privacy policies?

    We take data security and privacy seriously and have policies and procedures in place to protect your confidential information. We also use secure data storage and encryption methods to protect your data.