Dag Detter
Profile
Dag Detter is an international advisor, author, and speaker renowned for his expertise in restructuring and managing public commercial assets. He combines experience as a senior government official, investment banker, and global consultant to help countries unlock hidden value within their balance sheets.
Widely recognized for transforming Sweden’s approach to state ownership and public wealth, he has become one of the leading global authorities on public asset management and fiscal reform. His work continues to shape how governments and financial institutions manage and measure national wealth.
Public Sector Leadership
From 1998 to 2001, Dag Detter led the restructuring of Sweden’s $70 billion portfolio of state-owned enterprises and real estate, encompassing over 60 companies and 200,000 employees. This was the first systematic effort by any European government to address the ownership and management of public commercial assets.
As President of Stattum, the Swedish National Wealth Fund, and Director and Head of the State Enterprise Division at the Swedish Ministry of Industry, he oversaw key state holdings including Vattenfall (energy), Posten (national mail and logistics), Telia (telecommunications), AssiDomän (forestry and packaging), Celsius (defence), and SJ (national railways).
Under his leadership, the portfolio’s value rose by 12%, outperforming the Swedish stock market index, while yielding approximately $18 billion in divestitures and $7 billion in dividends. This historic restructuring became a model for how governments could manage public assets more efficiently and transparently.
Advisory Work
Following his achievements in Sweden, Dag Detter has advised local and national governments in more than 30 countries on maximizing the value of their public commercial assets and real estate portfolios.
His advisory work spans diverse regions and economies, including Abu Dhabi, Argentina, China, Ethiopia, Finland, Greece, Jordan, Libya, Lithuania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.
He has provided policy advice to major international institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank, European Stability Mechanism, and the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund.
As Principal of Detter & Co., a corporate finance advisory boutique specializing in the management and restructuring of public assets, he continues to guide governments, cities, and institutions in transforming dormant public wealth into productive capital that strengthens fiscal resilience and reduces reliance on taxation.
Private Sector and Board Roles
Earlier in his career, Mr. Detter spent more than a decade in investment banking at SEB, Barclays, Credit Suisse, and BNP Paribas, where he specialized in corporate finance, restructuring, and asset valuation.
He has served as Non-Executive Director for several listed and private enterprises, including Celsius, Telia, Posten, Svenska Kraftnät (the national electricity grid operator), and Jernhusen (the national railway holding company). His board experience bridges both private and public sectors, giving him a unique understanding of how financial discipline and governance can improve state enterprise performance.
Publications
Dag Detter is the co-author of The Public Wealth of Nations, named Book of the Year (2015) by The Economist and the Financial Times. The book presents a groundbreaking framework for managing national assets through professional, transparent, and depoliticized institutions — demonstrating how better asset management can strengthen economies and create fiscal space for social investment.
His follow-up volume, The Public Wealth of Cities, extends these principles to the urban level, showing how cities can revitalize themselves by identifying and managing their economic, social, and human capital.
In 2024, he published Public Net Worth: Accounting, Government, and Democracy, which has been praised by policymakers and economists alike. Ruth Richardson, former New Zealand Minister of Finance, called it “a compelling practitioner’s guide for policymakers who take seriously their responsibilities to promote economic and social welfare.”
World Bank leaders such as Arman Vatyan and Srinivas Gurazada highlighted the book’s relevance for governments seeking credible balance sheets and fiscal sustainability, while W.A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, described it as “essential reading for all who are concerned about the fairness of government finance.”
Thought Leadership and Media
Mr. Detter is a regular commentator on the fiscal management of public wealth and the importance of transparency in government balance sheets. His blog, Public Wealth, explores how smarter governance can generate growth and social welfare without raising taxes.
He has been featured in numerous interviews and discussions, including:
“Restructuring the Swedish Government’s Portfolio of Public Commercial Assets” (November 25, 2024)
“Unlocking the Hidden Value of Public Assets” (December 11, 2024)
His ideas continue to influence how countries, international financial institutions, and local governments think about economic reform and long-term fiscal sustainability.
Education
Business Administration & Sinology, Lund University (1982–1986)
Legal Studies, Stockholm University (1992–1993)
Fudan University, Shanghai (1984–1985)
Royal Naval College, Stockholm (1979–1980)
Languages
English • Swedish • German • French • Mandarin • Danish
Areas of Expertise
Public Wealth Management • Fiscal Governance • State-Owned Enterprises • Asset Valuation • Government Reform • Infrastructure Finance • Sovereign Asset Management • Urban Economics