Early Life
Roger Ivar Samuelsson was born on December 10, 1963, in Svalöv, Sweden. Growing up in the Gothenburg area, he later attended Berzeliusskolan in Linköping, where he studied engineering from 1980 to 1983. As a young man, Samuelsson showed an interest in sports and began importing goods from Asia, including boxing gloves.
Rise to Success
Samuelsson's entrepreneurial journey began when he moved to Taiwan in 1988. The following year, he co-founded Scandinavian Health Systems (SHL Group), now SHL Medical, with Martin Jelf. Initially, the company operated as a trading business. However, it soon pivoted towards medical devices, specifically autoinjectors. Under Samuelsson's leadership, SHL Medical expanded significantly, becoming a global leader in self-injection solutions. The company's first autoinjector launched in 1996, marking a turning point in its history. EQT acquired a 31% stake in SHL Medical in 2020, which is now 32%.
Key Business Strategies
SHL Medical's success can be attributed to its focus on innovation, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to quality. The company invested heavily in automating its production processes, which enabled it to manufacture devices for major pharmaceutical companies, including Novo Nordisk, Amgen, and Pfizer. SHL Medical has expanded its operations globally with production facilities in Taiwan, China, Europe, and the U.S. The company also emphasizes sustainability, introducing electric trucks and reducing waste to minimize its environmental impact.
Philanthropy
Roger Samuelsson is also known for his involvement in motorsports, particularly with his Race4Health team. In addition, he is the owner of the megayacht Octopus, previously owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen.
