Each December the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York honors a leader or a company whose work has strengthened the bond between Sweden and the United States.
OUR HERITAGE
From 1638 to today
The award was established in 1987 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the first Swedish immigrants' arrival in America, a year officially declared one of friendship between Sweden and the United States. Sweden holds the distinction of having the world’s oldest trade agreement with the US — the “Treaty of Amity and Commerce”, signed in Paris in 1783 by Benjamin Franklin and Count Gustaf Philip Creutz, Sweden’s first ambassador to the United States.
For 29 consecutive years, the Lucia Trade Award honored leaders who advanced free trade between our two nations. The very first was presented in the Oval Office to the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan.
After a near-decade pause, the award returned in 2025 — reimagined for the world we live in now.
As the Lucia Trade & Innovation Award, it now honors organizations and individuals shaping global industries and advancing transatlantic collaboration, celebrating the pioneering contributions of both Sweden and the United States.
“The fact that we are bringing back the award – 2025 – is intentional. We believe it is the right time to reaffirm our commitment to trade and cooperation.
But at the same time – we want the award to reflect the new times we live in, with a renewed focus on innovation.”
THE DISTINCTION
What the award represents
Trade
Meaningful contribution to U.S.–Sweden commercial ties.
Innovation
Bold innovation that reshapes industries on both sides of the Atlantic.
Legacy
120 years of Swedish-American leadership.
SELECTION
The Lucia Trade & Innovation Award honors leaders and companies whose dedication to international business has advanced Swedish-American commerce and shaped industries on both sides of the Atlantic. Recipients are recognized for visionary thinking, practical solutions, and a lasting contribution to entrepreneurship, cross-border collaboration, and the sustainable impact of innovation on a global scale — reflecting the founding principle that peace is fostered through interdependence, cooperation, and open communication.
RECIPIENTS
A legacy of Swedish-American excellence
2025 · 30TH EDITION
In recognition of their groundbreaking contribution to reshaping a global industry and pioneering innovation that enriches human connection, amplifies cultural expression, and brings the power of music and audio to people around the world.
Born of Swedish ingenuity and propelled by growth in the United States, Spotify’s legacy is a true testament to the impact of transatlantic innovation.
Previous Recipients
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President Ronald Reagan
1987
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was the first recipient of the Lucia Trade Award.
He served as President from 1981 to 1989.
The Award was presented in the Oval Office of the White House, in recognition of his "persuasive advocacy and unstinting efforts on behalf of free trade and communication in furtherance of mankind's ceaseless quest for a better life and peace for all."
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H.R.H. Prince Bertil
1988
H.R.H. Prince Bertil was the first Swede to receive the Lucia Trade Award.
He devoted his lifetime to promoting trade on behalf of Swedish companies. The genial "Prince of Good Fellows" traveled around the world tirelessly to promote free trade at home and abroad.
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John F. Akers
1989
John F. Akers served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of IBM when he received the Lucia Trade Award in 1989.
His selection was based on his leadership of a worldwide corporation that maintained the highest standards in the marketing and sale of its products, symbolizing the essence of international trade.
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Dr. Peter Wallenberg
1990
Dr. Peter Wallenberg, a banker and industrialist, bore one of the best known names in Sweden.
For most of the more than 200 years in which Sweden and the United States have generated profitable trade relations, members of the Wallenberg family have been actively involved.
Andre Oscar Wallenberg, a merchant seaman and naval officer, went ashore in Boston in 1830 and remained there to work for several years.
Impressed with the opportunities, especially in banking, he returned to Sweden and established Stockholm's Enskilda Bank in 1856.
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Robert A. Mosbacher
1991
Robert A. Mosbacher, Chairman of Mosbacher Energy Company, was a leader in the energy field for over 40 years, with drilling and production ventures spanning the Gulf Coast, Rocky Mountains, Michigan basin, Canada, Spain, the Philippines, Tunisia, Venezuela, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Thailand.
He also served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1989 to 1992 under President George H.W. Bush.
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Dr. Hans Rausing
1992
Dr. Hans Rausing served as Honorary Chairman of the Tetra Laval Group, formed when Tetra Pak acquired Alfa-Laval.
Prior to this, he served for 33 years as President of Tetra Pak, the family company that manufactures cartons for milk, juice and other basic products.
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![A black and white photo of a man in a suit and tie holding a model airplane and a bird sculpture.]()
Frank Anderson Shrontz
1993
Frank Anderson Shrontz served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Boeing Company when he received the Lucia Trade Award in 1993.
He was elected CEO of Boeing in 1986 and became Chairman of the Board in 1988, having previously been elected President and member of the Board of Directors in 1985.
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Dr. Percy Barnevik
1994
Dr. Percy Barnevik received the Lucia Trade Award while serving as Chairman of ABB, Asea Brown Boveri, Ltd.
Widely cited as one of the most successful industrial leaders of his era, Dr. Barnevik was a strong believer in world trade and urged investment in Eastern Europe and Russia before most other industrial leaders.
He later served as Chairman of the investment company Investor AB.
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![Black and white portrait of a man with neatly combed hair, wearing a suit, tie, and plaid jacket, posing thoughtfully with his hand near his chin.]()
Lodwrick M. Cook
1995
Lodwrick M. Cook, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ARCO, compiled a history of creative management spanning nearly 40 years with the company.
Starting as an engineer trainee, he rose through roles in labor relations, refining, marketing, planning, supply and transportation, and executive management.
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![Black and white photo of an elderly man in glasses, wearing a suit, tie, and white shirt, looking directly at the camera.]()
Dr. Curt Nicolin
1996
For many decades, Dr. Curt Nicolin was one of Sweden's most prestigious and successful industrialists.
Appointed Managing Director of ASEA AB in 1961 and Chairman of the Board in 1976, he led the company's expansion into a major international enterprise and was instrumental in the 1987 merger that created ABB Asea Brown Boveri, serving as its Co-Chairman during the company's formative years.
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![A black and white photo of an elderly man wearing glasses, a suit, and a watch, with his hand resting on his chin and looking thoughtfully upward.]()
Norman R. Augustine
1997
Norman R. Augustine, after nearly four decades of public and private sector service, became widely recognized for his leadership of the U.S. aerospace industry and his advocacy of innovative technologies.
He served as Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin from 1995 to 1997 and has held numerous advisory roles in government and academia.
Now in his late eighties, Mr. Augustine remains one of the most respected voices in American aerospace and national security circles.
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Dr. Lars Ramqvist
1998
Dr. Lars Ramqvist served as Chairman and CEO of Ericsson and is one of the most respected business leaders in the telecommunications industry.
For more than three decades, his work diligently supported free trade between Sweden and the United States and worldwide.
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John F. Smith, Jr.
1999
John F. Smith, Jr. served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of General Motors from 1996 to 2003, and as Chief Executive Officer from 1992 to 2000.
He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer from April to November 1992, and as President through October 1998.
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H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf
2000
H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was the recipient of the Lucia Trade Award in 2000.
Born on April 30, 1946, he is the fifth and youngest child of Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla of Sachsen-Coburg and Gotha.
His father died in a plane crash in 1947 when Carl Gustaf was only nine months old. With the death of his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf in 1973, Carl Gustaf — then 27 years old — became Sweden's Head of State.
Now in his 80th year, King Carl XVI Gustaf remains Sweden's reigning monarch, having celebrated his Golden Jubilee on the throne in 2023, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Swedish history.
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William Clay Ford, Jr.
2001
William Clay Ford, Jr. has served as Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company since 2006, having previously served as CEO from 2001 to 2006.
He was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in September 1998 and took office in January 1999. Mr. Ford joined the company in 1979 as a product analyst and rose through a variety of positions in manufacturing, sales, marketing, product development and finance.
Under his leadership, Ford navigated the 2008 financial crisis without a government bailout and has overseen the company's major push into electric vehicles.
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Claes Björk
2002
Claes Björk joined Skanska AB in 1968 following his engineering studies in Sweden, and went on to serve in a number of field engineering and project management positions.
Transferred to the newly formed Skanska USA in early 1972, he rose to become President of Skanska USA in 1985, leading the construction of significant infrastructure projects throughout the Northeast.
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![Black and white photo of an elderly man wearing glasses, a dark coat, and a collared shirt, looking at the camera with a slight smile.]()
Ingvar Kamprad
2004
Ingvar Kamprad turned vision into mission and dream into reality when he founded IKEA and transformed it into one of the world's most recognized brands.
From a bumpy start in the U.S. in 1979, IKEA grew to operate hundreds of stores across four continents.
At the time of the Lucia Trade Award, global sales reached €17.3 billion with more than 200 stores in 44 countries.
By the time of his passing on January 27, 2018, IKEA had grown to more than 400 stores worldwide and annual revenues exceeding €38 billion.
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Marilyn Carlson Nelson
2005
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, the first woman to receive the Lucia Trade Award, served as Chairman and CEO of Carlson Companies, one of the largest privately held hospitality and travel corporations in the world.
Recognized as one of the most powerful women in business, she led the company for many years before transitioning to a legacy role.
Ms. Carlson Nelson has remained active in philanthropy and public service, and the Carlson family continues to be a major force in global hospitality through Radisson Hotel Group.
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![Black and white portrait of an older man wearing glasses, a dark suit, a checkered shirt, and a patterned tie, standing with hands clasped in front.]()
Leif Johansson
2006
Leif Johansson served as President and CEO of the Volvo Group from 1997 to 2011, during which time the company underwent the greatest transformation in its history.
Drawing on more than 30 years in executive positions within Swedish companies with global operations, he subsequently served as Chairman of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson from 2011 to 2017 and as Chairman of AstraZeneca from 2012 to 2021.
He has been widely regarded as one of Sweden's most distinguished corporate leaders.
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Jeffrey B. Kindler
2007
Jeffrey Kindler joined Pfizer in 2002 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, was named Vice Chairman in 2005, and served as CEO and member of the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2010.
He led Pfizer's worldwide legal, compliance, communications, corporate relations, citizenship, and policy functions before stepping down in December 2010.
Since leaving Pfizer, Mr. Kindler has been active in healthcare investment and advisory work.
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Michael Treschow
2008
Michael Treschow is widely considered one of the most influential Swedish businessmen of his generation.
He served as Chairman of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson and as non-executive Chairman of Unilever, stepping down from the latter in 2013.
He has also served as a Board Member of ABB Ltd. and held the chairmanship of the Wallenberg Foundations.
Mr. Treschow has been a prominent voice on corporate governance and sustainability in European business.
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Jeffrey Immelt
2009
Jeffrey Immelt served as Chairman and CEO of General Electric from 2001 to 2017, leading GE through the financial crisis and a significant industrial transformation.
He was recognized at the time of the Lucia Trade Award for his leadership of one of the world's largest companies and his long-standing promotion of clean energy through GE's Ecomagination initiative.
Since leaving GE, Mr. Immelt has been active in technology investment and advisory roles.
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Stefan Persson
2010
Stefan Persson is Chairman Emeritus of Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M), having stepped down as Chairman in 2020 after succeeding his father as CEO in 1982 and overseeing decades of global expansion.
During his tenure, H&M grew from a Scandinavian brand to one of the world's largest fashion retailers, with thousands of stores across more than 70 countries.
His efforts and true dedication to international business has enabled countless job opportunities worldwide.
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![Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a suit, dress shirt, and a striped tie.]()
Amd. Charles A. Heimbold, Jr.
2011
Ambassador Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. served as Chairman and CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb before being appointed U.S. Ambassador to Sweden by President George W. Bush in 2001, a role he held until 2004.
He was described as an excellent addition to the distinguished list of Lucia Trade Award recipients at the time of his award.
“He has had an exemplary professional career, has devoted significant time to charitable endeavors, and was a highly regarded U.S. Ambassador to Sweden. We are delighted that he is this year's Recipient," said Henry Gooss, Chairman of The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York at the time of the 2011 Lucia Trade Award Gala.
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Bertil Hult
2012
The 25th Annual Lucia Trade Award was presented to Mr. Bertil Hult in recognition of his longstanding support of free trade.
Bertil Hult is the founder of EF Education First, which he established in 1965. Under his leadership, EF grew into a multi-billion dollar company with tens of thousands of employees in more than 50 countries.
He served as CEO until 2002 and as Chairman until 2008.
The Hult International Business School, named in his honor, has since expanded its presence to campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Shanghai, and is now one of the world's most internationally diverse business schools.
Today EF remains one of the world's largest private education companies.
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Michael L. Corbat
2013
Michael Corbat served as CEO of Citi from October 2012 to February 2021.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), overseeing all of Citi's operations across consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, securities and trading, and private banking.
His tenure saw Citi emerge from post-financial crisis restructuring to become a more focused global institution.
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![Black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman with light hair, wearing a blazer with two buttons and a white shirt underneath, crossing her arms and looking at the camera.]()
Annika Falkengren
2014
Annika Falkengren served as President and CEO of SEB from 2005 to 2017, following a long and successful career with the bank.
During her tenure she chaired the Swedish Bankers' Association and served on the supervisory boards of Volkswagen and Securitas.
She was named "European Banker of the Year" in 2012 and was repeatedly ranked among the top ten most powerful women in global business by Fortune Magazine.
Since leaving SEB, Ms. Falkengren has served on several major corporate boards and remains one of the most respected figures in European finance.
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Inge G. Thulin
2015
Inge Thulin served as 3M's Chairman, President and CEO from 2012 to 2019, capping a career with the company spanning nearly four decades.
He assumed the position of Executive Vice President for International Operations in 2003, became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2011, and was appointed President and CEO in 2012, with the chairmanship following shortly after.
Under his leadership, 3M continued to expand its global footprint and innovation agenda.
THE LUNCHEON
Where tradition meets recognition
Each December, members and friends gather for a traditional Julbord, the candlelit St. Lucia procession, and the ceremonial presentation of the award.