[1] Sundström studied human geography and economics at Umeå University from 1972 to 1975, and became mayor of Piteå Municipality in 1980, at the age 27, the youngest at the time.

Following the 1998 election, Björn Rosengren was appointed minister for enterprise, a post that Sundström had wished to retain.

A short time before Sundström had to leave the post as chairman he had sacked CEO Michael Wolf.

[5] He was considered a possible contender for the leadership of the Social Democratic Party after Håkan Juholt's resignation in January 2012.

[3] Sundström is domestic partner with Social Democratic politician Anna Hallberg.