Maria Ryytty awarded prestigious European Leadership Award
Maria Ryytty, Head of Strategic Maintenance, Business Area Iron Ore, has been awarded the prestigious European Maintenance Manager Award for 2024.
The award is presented every two years by the European Federation of National Maintenance Societies (EFNMS) and the Salvetti Foundation. This year’s award was presented last week during a ceremony in Rimini, Italy.
Congratulations Maria! How does this feel?
– I am incredibly happy and proud to have received this award. It is important to clarify that this is the result of the work of many people. I have carried out all the improvement work that I have had the honor of leading, together with incredibly competent colleagues. Since 2007, many people have participated in the work and been involved, in order to strive together towards common goals and the creation of clear effects. Everyone I’ve worked with over the years is a part of this award. I really want everyone to feel that, says Maria Ryytty.
This a leadership award, how do you look at the role of a leader?
– I see it as my responsibility to, through coaching leadership, create the conditions for both individuals and groups to develop and work towards a common goal, which brings us closer to LKAB’s strategic goals and business plan, she says.
What is the recipe for successful improvement work?
– It is important that all of us at LKAB who work with maintenance have a good knowledge of the customer’s needs, a good customer relationship and a great understanding of the conditions that exist or need to be created. We constantly need to work on having a good dialogue and we have to adapt our support to the business based on the customer’s conditions, she says.
Why is maintenance important?
– It is one of the most prioritised areas for our profitability and for our safety. We work for a sustainable, efficient and profitable maintenance operation, which means planned maintenance at the right time. This positively affects the work environment, external environment as well as energy consumption, which in turn leads to improved business practices, says Maria Ryytty.
Maria Ryytty was awarded Maintenance Manager of the Year in Sweden 2022. The national organisation Swedish Maintenance selects the winner in Sweden and nominates for the European Maintenance Manager Award.
Description of the European Maintenance Manager Award
The European Maintenance Manager Award recognises outstanding achievements in the field of maintenance by applying and promoting new concepts, technologies and best practices. The award is one of the most prestigious European awards for an extraordinary achievement in the field of maintenance. This prize is awarded every two years by the European Federation of National Maintenance Societies (EFNMS) and the Salvetti Foundation. In 2024, the award was presented on September 16 during a ceremony in Rimini, Italy.
The award was established by Dr. Stefano Salvetti and his foundation and the European Federation of National Maintenance Societies – EFNMS.