Press release from the Nobel Foundation

Two new senior appointments to the Nobel organization

12 August 2026 View in Swedish
Nobel Center from the water along the quay

Nobel Center from the water along the quay. Illustration: © Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach

The Nobel organization in Sweden will expand over the coming years as the Nobel Center at Slussen takes shape. Two new senior appointments have now been made to support this development. Johan Brandt will head a new, consolidated communications department, and Helena Thybell will head the new partnerships and events department.

Johan Brandt and Helena Thybell will each lead a newly established division of approximately 20 people. Both positions are part of the Nobel organization’s executive management team and report to the Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.

“I am delighted to welcome Helena Thybell and Johan Brandt. Their experience, commitment and expertise will strengthen our organization at an exciting time of development, not least as we work to realise a new Nobel house,” said Hanna Stjärne, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.

“The Nobel Prize holds a unique position internationally and enjoys a very high level of trust. To have the opportunity to contribute to safeguarding this over the long term, while further developing Nobel’s communications in Sweden and internationally, is both a great responsibility and an inspiring task that I very much look forward to,” said Johan Brandt.

“I am both proud and delighted to be joining the Nobel organization. It is a true privilege to contribute to an organization that inspires and engages people around the world. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue strengthening the organization and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Helena Thybell.

Johan Brandt is currently Director of Communications at Stockholm University and was previously CEO of communications agency Geelmuyden Kiese and Deputy CEO of Gullers Group. He has also worked as a deputy editor and held senior digital roles at Dagens Nyheter. Johan will join on 5 October.

Helena Thybell is currently Executive Director of SIWI, the Stockholm International Water Institute. She has served as global Head of HR/People and Culture at H&M group and helped shape the work of both the H&M Foundation and the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation. Her background also includes serving as CEO of Save the Children Sweden and working internationally for the Red Cross. Helena will start at the beginning of next year.

Johan Brandt Photo: Anna Wedelfors von Corswant
Helena Thybell Photo: Elias Ljungberg

For further information please contact:

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+46 8 122 084 45



Nobel Foundation

The Nobel Foundation is a private foundation established in 1900 on the basis of the will of Alfred Nobel and the founding statutes promulgated in connection with the will. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the intentions of the will of Alfred Nobel are fulfilled. The Foundation is responsible for ensuring that the assets made available for awarding the Nobel Prize are managed in such a way as to safeguard the economic base of the Prize in a long-term perspective and guarantee the independence of the prize-awarding institutions in their work of selecting Laureates. The Nobel Foundation is also entrusted with managing and carefully developing the trademarks and intangible assets that have been built up during the more than century-long history of the Nobel Prize.

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