LONDON, November 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Global defence and security company Saab has announced a continued expansion of its presence in the UK with its new market operations area for Europe and Greater Middle East to be headquartered in London, effective from January 1st 2013. 

To create profitable and long-term growth, Saab has placed clear focus on increasing its international presence and sales outside of Sweden.

Its new and expanded UK office will help spearhead the company's international presence and export sales into markets with strong demand and with the right conditions for profitable growth. The new regional operation will be headed by Tomas Samuelsson, President and Head of Market Area Europe and Greater Middle East. He is currently Head of Saab Business Area Dynamics.

The latest decision represents a commitment on the part of Saab to continue to expand its operational base in London, while also underlining the importance of the UK as a major partner and location for driving international defence and security business opportunities.  

As the company celebrates its 75th Anniversary in defence in 2012, Saab continues to build on its many existing relationships and confirms its long-term commitment to the defence and security market from its enlarged base in London.

"We are building further on our export successes by increasing our business in all respects, including more sales into UK from Sweden, more local growth with personnel across Europe and Greater Middle East. We are looking to introduce new products, new services and develop stronger relations across each of our new market areas and see significant opportunities for growth. Our entire new market area organisation will help us establish an even stronger international foothold outside Sweden with marketing and sales operations centralised in the UK," says Saab's President and CEO Håkan Buskhe.

"Saab's latest investment in its operations in the UK is testament to the strength of the UK's defence sector and recognition of the role the United

Kingdom can play in supporting Saab to achieve its global vision for profitable growth. UKTI Defence and Security Organisation has been closely involved in supporting and developing their export opportunities from the UK. Saab's decision to expand its operational base in London, is testament to the support that has been provided, not just by UKTI DSO alone but from other parts of government working together. I congratulate Saab on this investment and we look forward to supporting Saab develop its business in the UK," said Nick Baird, Chief Executive of UK Trade and Investment.

Saab's London headquarters opened in 2011 as part of major expansion into the UK. The company provides a range of defence and security products and services to the UK armed forces.

Saab has around 13,000 employees globally with some 200 employees across the United Kingdom. Saab has a long history of providing defence products and services to the UK Armed Forces, including soldiers Combat and Counter-IED training, infantry weapons and the Arthur and Giraffe AMB ground-based radars which help secure the lives of UK troops deployed overseas.

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Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers' changing needs.