Published: March 4, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Anna Malmhake is a retail industry heavyweight – and the secret to her success is, on the face of it at least, quite simple.
Malmhake served as CEO and chair at The Absolut Company Pernod Ricard before moving to gaming giant Activision Blizzard to perform MD roles around go-to-market EMEA then brands and consumer products.
She is now CEO of Oriflame, a Swedish-founded multinational focused on beauty and personal care products.
“Throughout my career, I have chosen to work in categories that I personally care about,” she tells BusinessCloud.
“That sense of connection has always been my motivation. Whether it is cocktails, gaming or beauty, these are products and experiences that matter to me in my own life.
“When you genuinely love the consumer offering, it becomes natural to invest the time, curiosity and energy required to excel. I have always been driven by understanding what people want, how brands can enhance their everyday lives and how we can communicate that in a way that feels meaningful.
“This enthusiasm, combined with a commitment to building strong teams and ambitious brands, has consistently helped me to grow within the organisations I have been lucky to be part of.”