James Ahrgren

President and CEO, Aq

Search every verified James Ahrgren interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. James Ahrgren, President and CEO of AQ Group, commented on the company's performance in the third quarter of 2024, during which organic sales declined by 11%. Ahrgren described the period as "no klang och jubel" (no fanfare), attributing the downturn to weak demand from major vehicle manufacturers, including those producing trucks, buses, and agricultural machinery, as well as a struggling German economy. He noted that some factories serving the automotive sector were performing worse than others, but said the company has been able to maintain margins by keeping fixed costs low. Ahrgren also discussed acquisition opportunities, stating that he sees "less competition" and a "very large supply" of potential targets, including companies facing liquidity issues or seeking succession sales. He said AQ Group prefers to make acquisitions during weaker economic periods and has already completed several small purchases in 2024, with hopes to do more in the future.