Gunnebo CEO: ASSA ABLOY Deal Creates the Right Long-Term Structure for Both Companies
When Gunnebo Group announced plans to sell its Entrance Control business to ASSA ABLOY, the agreement marked the next phase in the company’s long-term transformation. Once the transaction closes, Gunnebo will focus exclusively on its Safe Storage business while Entrance Control becomes part of a global leader in access solutions.
For Stefan Syren, President and CEO of Gunnebo Group, the decision was less about exiting the entrance control market than giving both organizations a clearer strategic focus.
Asked whether Gunnebo Entrance Control is better positioned for future growth as part of ASSA ABLOY than it was as part of Gunnebo Group, Syren pushed back on the framing of the question.
“I wouldn’t describe it as being ‘better positioned,’” Syren said. “Gunnebo Entrance Control has been a successful business within Gunnebo Group, and we are proud of all the team has achieved.”
Instead, he framed the sale as a matter of structure, not performance.
“This agreement is about creating the right long-term structure for both businesses,” he said. “It allows Gunnebo Entrance Control to continue its development as part of ASSA ABLOY, while enabling Gunnebo Group to sharpen its strategic focus on Safe Storage. We believe this dedicated focus gives both businesses the best opportunity to continue building on their respective strengths.”
Why ASSA ABLOY?
Syren traced the decision back to a strategy Gunnebo has pursued for roughly a decade, rebuilding the company around technology through investments in people, product development, digitalization, new facilities and sustainability. Divesting Entrance Control, he said, represents “a natural next step” in that transformation.
He said the transaction allows Gunnebo Group to concentrate its investment and expertise on Safe Storage and SecureTech while giving Entrance Control the opportunity to continue growing within ASSA ABLOY.
Asked what made ASSA ABLOY the right long-term home for Entrance Control, Syren pointed to the companies’ complementary portfolios and ASSA ABLOY’s global sales and service network.
He said ASSA ABLOY’s scale and global sales and service network provide Entrance Control with a broader platform for future growth while creating long-term value for customers, partners and employees.
A sharper bet on Safe Storage
Following completion of the transaction, Gunnebo Group will focus exclusively on Safe Storage, allowing the company to concentrate its investment and product development on that business and its SecureTech offerings.
Syren pointed to connected security as one area of continued investment, citing the Hamilton Drive-Up solution, the AmpliSec connected lock and the Gunnebo iQ software platform. He said those technologies give customers greater control, auditability and flexibility while reflecting growing demand for solutions that combine certified physical protection with connected security management.
He said customer expectations continue to evolve toward solutions that pair physical protection with digital capabilities that improve visibility and day-to-day security management, an area Gunnebo intends to continue investing in as it expands its Safe Storage and SecureTech offerings.
Growth priorities
Looking ahead, Syren said Gunnebo plans to continue investing in product development, digitalization and service capabilities while strengthening customer relationships, developing talent and building on established brands such as Chubbsafes, which recently marked its 190th anniversary.
Future growth, he said, will come through a combination of organic expansion and selected acquisitions that add complementary capabilities while continuing to strengthen Gunnebo’s Safe Storage and SecureTech portfolio.
The acquisition of Gunnebo Entrance Control by ASSA ABLOY remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026.
About the Author
Rodney Bosch
Editor-in-Chief/SecurityInfoWatch.com
Rodney Bosch is the Editor-in-Chief of SecurityInfoWatch.com. He has covered the security industry since 2006 for multiple major security publications. Reach him at [email protected].