Gent Simmons

President, Husqvarna Forest & Garden, North America Husqvarna Group

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

Gent Simmons runs Husqvarna’s Forest & Garden business in North America. He took the role in April 2026 after more than a quarter-century inside Husqvarna, the last ten years in Sweden running global product management and development. His background is mostly in product, and he takes over a market where, in his words, the brand is competing across combustion engines, electrification and autonomous solutions at once.

Career Highlights

• President of Husqvarna Forest & Garden, North America since 1 April 2026, based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Most recently Senior Vice President, Global CSU Core at Husqvarna Forest & Garden.
• More than a decade in Sweden leading global product management and development across robotics, handheld, wheeled, accessories and digital solutions.
• More than 26 years with Husqvarna Forest & Garden in product development, product management, sales and marketing.
• Fronted the August 2026 launch of the 564 XP, Husqvarna’s first fuel-injected chainsaw, and the battery-powered 550i XP.

Professional Journey

Simmons has spent his whole recorded career at Husqvarna Forest and Garden, more than 26 years by the company’s count. He has held leadership roles in product development, product management, sales and marketing.

For more than a decade he was based in Sweden, where he led global product management and development across the division’s robotics, handheld, wheeled, accessories and digital solutions categories. His last role before returning to the United States was Senior Vice President, Global CSU Core.

On 31 March 2026 Husqvarna announced that he would become President of its North America Business Unit from 1 April, relocating to Charlotte to lead Husqvarna Forest & Garden, North America. He succeeded Andreas Rangert, who returned to Sweden as Senior Vice President of the Handheld business portfolio unit. Simmons said he was excited “to return home after 10 years in Sweden”. He added that the brand would keep leading “across internal combustion engine technology, electrification, and autonomous solutions”.

That three-way split showed in his first major launch. In August 2026 the company introduced the 564 XP, its first fuel-injected chainsaw, which pairs 70cc power with 50cc manoeuvrability, together with the battery-powered 550i XP. Simmons called the 564 XP “a leap forward in professional chainsaw technology”.

Education

No education record was found in any company source.