Vend appoints Maria Sandgren as new EVP & Chief Product and Technology Officer

Maria Sandgren joined Schibsted (now Vend) in 2021 as Chief Product Officer at Blocket and currently holds the role of SVP, CPO Brand Experience and Marketplace Platform. She brings extensive experience from product and technology leadership, combined with deep knowledge of Vend’s marketplaces. In 2024, Sandgren served as interim EVP and CPTO, working closely with the executive leadership team. 

“I’m very happy to welcome Maria Sandgren as our new EVP & CPTO,” says Christian Printzell Halvorsen, CEO of Vend. 

“Maria has already proven herself as a bold, forward-thinking leader with a strong drive for change, someone who challenges us to move faster and think differently. I’m excited about what we will achieve under her leadership,” he continues. 

Maria has a broad background from senior leadership roles from Swedish and Nordic telecom companies, spanning technology, product development, and general management. She succeeds Sven Størmer Thaulow, who is stepping down after six years with the company.

“I’m both proud and honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal moment. We’ve already made great progress on our tech transformation, and our work within AI is starting to show real impact. I’m excited to continue building on that momentum and further explore how emerging technologies can help us bring more customer value, move faster, and increase efficiency and collaboration,” says Maria Sandgren. 

A rewarding journey

Sven Størmer Thaulow will leave Schibsted on 15 May 2025. He will support the leadership team during the transition period and will continue as Chair of the Norwegian Research Center for AI Innovation on behalf of Vend.

“I want to express my gratitude for Sven’s contribution to Schibsted and Vend. He has laid a solid foundation for innovation and growth, and his strategic clarity, hands-on execution, and open collaboration have been tremendously valuable. I’ve truly appreciated working with him,” says CEO Christian Printzell Halvorsen. 

“It’s been an intense and deeply rewarding journey in Schibsted/Vend — a place with strong values, a bold mission, and so many passionate people. I joined Schibsted when the ambition was to create an ecosystem of 50+ businesses, across Media, Marketplaces and Growth businesses. Now, six years later, as the separation of Media is practically done, the transition to a Nordic marketplace platform is on a great track, our AI initiatives are at full speed, and the company is racing towards being a streamlined marketplaces company — the timing is good for me to move on. I truly believe in the strategy we’re now pursuing, and I look forward to seeing where the team takes it next,” says Sven Størmer Thaulow.