The IYTT announces its new Board Chair: Anders Bylund

Since June 2026, Anders Bylund is the new chair of the International Youth Think Tank.

“I am the grandfather of five amazing grandkids, who together with my wife are the center of my life.” These are the words you will hear him say to introduce himself to the world. Anders was was born in Sundsvall in 1957 and has worked in both politics and business during his life-long career and experience.

Anders studied political science with academic ambitions. But when he was working on my C-grade thesis at the end of 1984 and was asked by a Swedish party leader to communications manager, he said yes, but only until the next election. A few more elections passed and his C-grade essay is still not finished. Anders still cares very much about politics, but he is not a member of any political party.

After 15 years in politics, a desire to work in business matured and this led to 10 years at McDonald’s where he combined a role as communications with various global assignments. After that he was CEO of Burson-Marsteller Sweden, a member of the European management team and responsible for the business area crisis management and crisis preparedness in EMEA.

Anders was then a strategic advisor and partner at Halvarsson&Halvarsson for a very short period, when he was asked to join Inter IKEA Group at the beginning of 2011, and he stayed through the years with responsibilities for, among other things, communication, sustainability and transformation. He also worked as an advisor to the owner foundations and initiated and built up the European Network of Enterprise Foundations.

Anders has been involved in various philanthropic initiatives during his life, including the Anti Apartheid movement, Brobyggarna, The Non Violence Project and Det Naturliga Steget.

He is currently chairperson of the rearc institute, a philanthropic initiative in architecture and climate. He also runs two companies, a small AI startup and a consultancy firm in communications, sustainability and leadership.

The IYTT with the Youth Fellows, the staff and the members of the Board and Nomination Committee welcome Anders in his new role, eager to work together to expand our reach. We are sure that Anders’ experience, enthusiasm and commitment to our cause will benefit our organisation and its work!

The IYTT community equally thanks Tord Hermansson for serving as Chair of the Board before Anders, and dedicating his time and energy to the organisation. We are extremely grateful for his dedication and work and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.