Bjorn Ahlstrom was the Chairman of the Volvo Group North America, Inc. and retired on April 1, 2004. Mr. Ahlstrom was Present and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo North America Corporation (VNAC) from 1971 until 1994. Under Mr. Ahlstrom's leadership VNAC grew from a $50 million car importer in the early 1970's to a $6 billion company with manufacturing and marketing operations for cars, trucks, marine engines and financial services. Mr. Ahlstrom began his career with IBM in 1958, holding various marketing and executive positions, until he left to join Volvo as head of worldwide sales and marketing in 1968.In 1981 Mr. Ahlstrom received the Royal Order of the North Star from King Carl SVI Gustaf of Sweden. The U.S. Government awarded him the medal of Peace and Commerce in 1983. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1990. Mr. Ahlstrom has been awarded honorary Dotor of Law degrees from St. John's University in New York and from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Mr. Ahlstom is married and he and his wife, Diane, reside in Palm Springs.