Retail Worlds: Jens Saltin

Jens Saltin is Head of Expansion at Klarna, an online checkout solution and payments provider that aims to simplify buying for consumers and retailers

Retail Systems: How did you get into the technology sector?
Jens Saltin: To be honest I changed from banking to tech entirely based on the product that we deliver and the added value it holds for both retailers and consumers. Basically, I really love the product and want to spread the word about it to just as many as I possibly can.

RS: Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
JS: Actually it is not a Who that has influenced my career, it is a What, the book Seven Habits. It is by far the single most influencing thing I have come across, and it has changed a lot in how and also why I do things, both on a personal and professional level. Read it!

RS: Who in the sector inspires you and why?
JS: Our CEO and founder Sebastian Siemiatkowski is the single most inspiring person I have ever met, and he is also one of the top reasons why I work here.

RS: Which IT professional do you most admire?
JS: Depends on what you mean with "IT professional", but in a broader context I will have to answer Sebastian again.

RS: Is there anything that you dislike or that frustrates you about the sector?
JS: I think the lack of and the fight for really great developers will continue to be a problem for some years to come.

RS: What technology can't you live without?
JS: Easy, my iPhone.

RS: How do you relax?
JS: I am really bad at relaxing, but when I do I love to travel the globe. I try to stay as still as I can for a few days in the sun somewhere warm, preferably with some friends and with a cold beer in my hand.

RS: What was your last retail experience both online and on the High Street and were they positive experiences?
JS: Online: I bought a pair of shoes on www.blacksheepstore.co.uk and the experience was 10/10 (as they have just launched with Klarna in the UK). High Street: Spent the better part of a day running around town trying to find a particular sweater in an unnamed High Street brand that does not have a great online presence, to say the least.

    Share Story:

Recent Stories


The Very Group
The Very Group transformed range and assortment planning using Board.

Watch the full video

Smarter merchandise planning across the retail value chain
In this webinar, Matt Hopkins, Head of Retail Solutions, Board, Catherine Tooke, SVP Product & Planning, Sweaty Betty, and Subir Gupta, Managing Principal, Thought Provoking Consulting join Retail Systems Editor Jonathan Easton to discuss the findings of the recent Retail Systems report The Merchandise Planning Challenge: How are retailers harnessing technology to optimise planning and retain customers? and examine the innovations that are improving retail planning.