ATG appoints Jörgen Forsberg as acting CEO
Table of contents
- Jörgen Forsberg takes over as acting CEO of ATG immediately, replacing chairman Peter Norman in the interim role.
- Forsberg will maintain his position as CEO of Svensk Travsport while leading ATG.
- The appointment follows Hasse Lord Skarplöth’s departure in February amid different views on the company’s future direction.
Jörgen Forsberg has been appointed acting CEO of Swedish betting operator AB Trav och Galopp (ATG), effective immediately, the company announced on Thursday evening.
Forsberg currently serves as CEO and group CEO of Svensk Travsport, a position he will retain during his tenure at ATG. He replaces Peter Norman, ATG’s chairman, who had stepped into the acting CEO role following Hasse Lord Skarplöth’s exit in February.
Swedish racing’s financial engine
ATG was founded in 1974 by the Swedish state to ensure long-term financial stability for trotting and thoroughbred racing. The operator is wholly owned by Swedish harness racing and thoroughbred organisations, with 91% owned by Svensk Travsport and 9% by Svensk Galopp.
All surplus generated by the company’s operations flows back to Swedish horse racing, funding prize money, breeder premiums and the sport’s development. The operator distributes betting content to international markets across Australia, Europe, Africa and North America, whilst offering betting on approximately 20,000 races annually.
Since 1 January 2019, ATG has offered sports betting and casino products alongside its traditional horse racing business. The company operates digital platforms and nearly 1,500 retail locations across Sweden, serving approximately 1.4 million customers.
Leadership transition underway
Norman now returns fully to his role as chairman of the board, whilst a recruitment process for a permanent CEO continues.
“I welcome Jörgen Forsberg to ATG. He will lead the work to implement the plans decided by the board and serve as acting CEO until a new CEO is recruited,” Peter Norman, chairman of ATG, said.
“The recruitment process for a permanent solution is ongoing.”
Forsberg brings extensive experience from both the harness racing industry and the automotive sector. He served as CEO of Solvalla/Stockholms Travsällskap from 2017 to 2024 and held board positions at Stockholm Trotting Society. Before entering the racing industry, he occupied senior leadership roles within the automotive sector in Sweden and internationally.
During Forsberg’s tenure as acting CEO, Ulf Hörnberg, deputy CEO of Svensk Travsport, will handle major operational CEO responsibilities within that organisation.
“In anticipation of a new CEO, I look forward to working together with all of ATG’s employees to continue developing ATG according to the board’s plans and safeguarding the company’s important role for the Swedish horse racing industry,” Jörgen Forsberg said.
Anders Källström, chairman of Svensk Travsport, added:
“Jörgen Forsberg has great leadership experience and a strong commitment to equestrian sports. From the ownership side, we are both reassured and grateful that he has accepted the role as acting CEO for ATG during the recruitment process of a new CEO.”
Strategic challenges ahead
Skarplöth’s departure in February followed what the company described as different views between himself and the board regarding ATG’s future direction. The leadership change coincided with the release of the operator’s 2025 financial results, which showed net gaming revenue declining 2% to SEK5.2bn ($490m).
Total revenue fell 4% to SEK6.0bn. Horse race betting revenue dropped 1%, sports betting declined 2%, and casino revenue fell 7%. Operating profit tumbled 15% year on year to SEK1.5bn.
The former CEO had been a vocal advocate for gambling tax reform in Sweden, proposing that the country follow the UK’s approach of excluding horse racing from tax increases. His suggestions drew criticism from industry groups, including the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling.
ATG faces increasing competition in Sweden’s regulated market, which has hosted approximately 70 licensed operators since liberalisation in 2019. The gambling tax increase from 18% to 22%, which took effect on 1 July 2024, reduced ATG’s profit by SEK216m ($24.2m).
Forsberg’s appointment signals continuity in the company’s relationship with Swedish horse racing whilst the board searches for long-term leadership. The new acting CEO’s dual role underscores the close operational ties between ATG and the sport it supports through its surplus distributions.
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