Although nothing official had been announced, the company has released the following statement: 

"Due to rumours in the market, we clarify that Johan Molin, President and CEO of Assa Abloy has informed the Board of Directors that he is considering to resign as President and CEO during 2018. Against this background, the Board has begun the work on evaluating potential successors to Johan Molin and has also appointed an external recruitment consultant."

Johan Molin succeeded Bo Dankis as CEO for the Swedish access solutions company Assa Abloy in December 2005. Previously he led a successful turnaround as CEO of the Danish industrial group Nilfisk-Advance, world leader in industrial and commercial cleaning machinery.

During his 12 years so far as CEO, Assa Abloy has acquired over 80 companies, and the offensive acquisition strategy is continuing with the acquisition of Mercury from ACRE last month and the acquisition of SMI in India in August 2017.