Recently, we announced Implema’s expansion into the United States. In this interview, Tobias Simolin, CEO of Implema U.S., shares why the company chose Raleigh, the opportunities ahead, and how the Swedish corporate culture and The Implema Way will guide this new chapter.
Tobias, you are the CEO of Implema’s U.S. subsidiary. What prompted this expansion?
“Several of our largest customers, with whom we have long-standing partnerships in the Nordics, operate production and logistics centers in this region. By establishing a U.S. presence, we can work closer to their operations, in their own time zone. This is a natural step in our international growth journey to better serve our customers’ needs.”
Why Raleigh and the Research Triangle? What makes the region particularly attractive for Implema?
“Many of our global customers have significant operations here, where we manage business-critical projects and the ongoing operation of their SAP environments. Being geographically close is therefore a logical next step.
In addition, the Research Triangle is one of the most dynamic growth regions in the U.S. It is home to a strong technology and biotech ecosystem, as well as three leading universities – including the prestigious Duke University – which supply exceptional talent to the market.”
What opportunities do you see for Implema in the U.S. over the next few years?
“We are starting on a smaller scale by building a local SAP delivery team. But this is only the beginning. We see significant demand in the area, both from existing customers and from new companies looking for expertise in SAP and Microsoft Dynamics.”
“Our ambition is clear: to be recognized as the partner that delivers the highest quality – in projects, in operations, and in relationships – in a U.S. market defined by fierce competition.”
What are the first concrete steps this fall?
“We are opening our office in downtown Raleigh, next door to other exciting companies such as Salesforce. Our immediate focus is recruitment – finding the right people who want to join us in building something new and be part of the Implema U.S. journey. The plan is to have our first team member on board in Q4 2025.”
Will you bring Swedish culture and The Implema Way to the U.S.?
“Absolutely. We believe a healthy, inclusive Swedish corporate culture is a strong differentiator when it comes to attracting top talent. Swedish companies have a reputation for combining world-class innovation with a great workplace culture – something that resonates well internationally. Our core values, Togetherness and Joy, will be just as important in the U.S. as they are in Sweden.”
What do you see as the biggest challenge – and how do you plan to address it?
“The biggest challenge is that this is our first international expansion so far from home. Above all, it’s about embedding our culture here. The key will be to build a strong team from the outset. We will also work actively with cross-border exchanges, so that both competence and culture flow naturally through joint customer engagements.”
Finally, looking five years ahead, what do you hope people will say about Implema U.S.?
“That we’ve become a trusted specialist partner for many of the region’s larger companies. That we’ve earned confidence by consistently delivering high quality in both projects and operations. And that we’ve succeeded in establishing a strong position in a highly competitive market.”
Related article: PRESSRELEASE: Implema Expands to the U.S. with New Office in North Carolina – Aktuellt – Implema