Henrik Forzelius, Head of Corporate Banking, New York

Henrik Forzelius is one of the employees at Swedbank New York. At this mid-Manhattan office, Henrik and his colleagues primarily work with financial solutions and payment services for Swedish companies in the USA, as well as with trading of interest-bearing securities. Here Henrik talks about his path to New York, and what plans he has for the future.

What is your educational background?
I have a bachelor’s in economics from Karlstad University, with one year as an exchange student at Kingston University outside of London.

How did you end up here?
While I was a student, I had the chance to work at Sparbanken in Karlstad during the summer. Through an internal announcement, I got a job as a controller at Swedbank Hypotek, the mortgage arm of Swedbank, in Stockholm. After that, I continued with the bank and became a specialist at Structured Finance Swedbank Markets. I always wanted to go the USA and New York and it’s now been three years since I started as corporate customer manager here in New York.
I’ve been Head of Corporate Banking for the last year – that is, head of the business group.

What is the proudest moment in your professional career?
I think you're proud every time you close a deal where both the bank and the customer are satisfied. The most important moment in my career was probably when I got a foot in the door at Sparbanken in Karlstad. Since then it’s all been on track.

Where do you live in New York?
In an apartment on the Upper West Side. The Upper West Side has everything – restaurants, businesses, great transportation and proximity to Central Park and the river.

How do you relax after work?
After work I play with my four-month-old daughter and spend time with my wife. I try to find time to go jogging
around Central Park now and then and spend time with friends. If I have a little bit of freetime, I like to get out of town and golf.

You seem to like it here. But seriously, there must be something you miss from Sweden?
Of course. I don’t see my friends and family very often. And I can really get a craving for Swedish cooking and salt liquorice.

Finally, what are your dreams for the future?
Right now I’m quite happy with living and working here in New York, but we will probably move back to Sweden in a few years. Then I hope I can continue in a position where I can put together some exciting business deals with eager colleagues, preferably within the Swedbank group.