A transition from strength
Dometic’s long-serving Chief Financial Officer, Stefan Fristedt, will step down at the end of April 2026, bringing to a close a tenure marked by discipline and delivery. His resignation, announced on 31 October 2025, followed the company’s third-quarter results just a week earlier — results that confirmed the global outdoor-tech brand has regained financial traction after several turbulent years.
The timing underscores a leadership change made from stability, not crisis. The Q3 report showed a 10.4 percent EBITA margin, up from 8.6 percent the previous year, and a clear improvement in cash flow and debt reduction. “I would like to thank Stefan Fristedt for his dedication and substantial contributions to Dometic’s development,” said President and CEO Juan Vargues, who credited the outgoing CFO with driving strategic restructuring and growth initiatives.
Delivering the turnaround
Under Fristedt’s financial leadership, Dometic successfully executed a Global Restructuring Programme that simplified operations, reduced debt, and lifted profitability despite weak consumer demand and high input costs.
Third-quarter revenue fell 13 percent year-on-year to SEK 4.9 billion, but the company expanded its margin through strict cost control and selective investment. The Marine segment — a key focus for Boating NZ readers — posted 1 percent organic growth, its first positive result in several quarters. Both the OEM and Service & Aftermarket channels contributed, suggesting the downturn in the global leisure-marine market may be easing.
Marine innovation continues
While the broader mobile-living sector remains cautious, Dometic’s marine pipeline is strong. The company expects continued momentum from the Dometic DG3 Gyro boat stabiliser, designed for both new builds and retrofits, and from its Recon series of mobile cooling systems, which won international product awards in 2025.
Fristedt’s focus on cash discipline has allowed Dometic to maintain investment in innovation even through a period of reduced volumes — a balance that positions the group for a broader recovery in 2026.
Controlled handover
By giving six months’ notice, Fristedt ensures an orderly handover of responsibilities through the company’s year-end reporting and 2026 budgeting cycle. Dometic has already begun the process of appointing his successor, while Fristedt remains in role through the transition.
For CEO Juan Vargues, the coming months will focus on building from this foundation: “The long-term trends in mobile living remain strong, and Dometic is in a prime position to deliver on its targets.”
Editorial perspective
From a boating-industry standpoint, Dometic’s latest quarter and Fristedt’s well-timed exit suggest a successful meeting of financial goals. The Marine segment’s return to growth, alongside reduced leverage and improving margins, reflects steady hands at the helm.
For New Zealand dealers and boatbuilders using Dometic’s refrigeration, power, and stabilisation systems, the company’s renewed financial health signals ongoing stability in product supply and support.
