New municipal director gets to know Kristianstad on his bike

It is one of the last perspiration-soaked summer days.

– It took a while, but we met people who wanted to stop and chat, says Pierre Månsson when we meet on Näsbychausséen. That was where Kb Mosaik had agreed to meet the gentlemen, but they were a bit late.

Pierre Månsson has appeared in the social media as he cycles round and points out his favourite places in the municipality. Now he is showing the new municipal director Anders Johansson round. They have gone past Högskolan Kristianstad and Lingenässkolan and been out at Gamlegården.

This is Anders Johanssons fourth day in his new job as municipal director.

– Being in charge of a slightly bigger municipality is going to be exciting. It's completely in line with the profession I've chosen. I enjoy working in the field of democracy, he said in an earlier interview in Kristianstadsbladet.

The field of democracy, what do you mean by that?

– I think democracy is one of the finest things we have in Sweden. As civil servants we back up the policies. What the politicians want to do, we make it happen. If I can support their policies, then I'm happy.

What exactly does a municipal director do?

– I take care of the administrative side of things, guiding and leading. It's a lot about co-ordination in the municipality, both outward and inward.

Anders Johansson has long experience as a leader in public and municipal affairs, most recently as municipal director in Gislaved.