IKEA CEO Jesper Brodin Steps Down After 30 Years
Jesper Brodin has announced on Linkedin that he will step down as CEO and President of Ingka Group, IKEA’s largest franchisee, after three decades with the company.
He said: “After 30 inspiring years within IKEA, and the recent eight as CEO & President, I have taken the personal decision to step down.
“It has not been an easy one to take, but I truly feel this is a good time.
“I am proud of how we, together, have navigated unprecedented challenges across the last years, always guided by our culture and values, while transforming IKEA to an omnichannel retailer with sustainability at our core.”
Jesper’s career journey
Jesper started at IKEA in 1995 as Purchase Manager in Pakistan. In 1999, he became assistant to IKEA Founder Ingvar Kamprad and then-CEO Anders Dahlvig, gaining direct insight into the company’s operational and logistical philosophy.
By 2011, Jesper took on the role of Supply Chain Manager, overseeing the flow of goods from production to store networks.
He then became CEO of IKEA Range and Supply, responsible for global product development and supply chain integration.
In 2017, he was appointed CEO of Ingka Group, where he combined retail operations with sustainability-focused supply chain management.
From the outset, Jesper says that IKEA’s efficiency mindset has been built into every decision: “We were taught that wasting resources was a sin.
"If you look at our tradition and history, long before anybody could spell sustainability, it was about reducing air in the packages, filling up the containers, making a flatpack.”
Sustainability through supply chain innovation
During his tenure, Jesper oversaw new emissions targets and resource efficiency measures designed to cut waste and reduce energy use across the value chain.
“The only way IKEA can be successful in the future is to be in a hurry to get sustainable,” he explains.
“We need to get smarter on how we use energy and materials across the whole value chain. And that’s the only way we will be able to be affordable.”
This approach includes lighter packaging to lower shipping costs, flatpack product design to optimise container space, and renewable energy use in warehouses and stores.
These operational changes strengthen supply resilience while lowering the company’s carbon footprint.
Discussing leadership and his thoughts on organisational culture, he has previously said “fear of making mistakes is the enemy of development” and advised employees not to ask for permission but to ask for forgiveness to drive improvement.
Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ingka Group, wrote on Linkedin: “Eleven years ago, Jesper Brodin took a chance on me.
“I left sunny Hong Kong, moved my family to Sweden and began my IKEA journey. His trust, support and infectious optimism have shaped my career from my early days as Head of Quality to my work as CSO today.”
Leadership handover
Jesper will hand over to Deputy CEO Juvencio Maeztu, who started as an IKEA Store Manager in Madrid, has been with the business for 25 years and has held the deputy role for more than seven years.
Jesper says: “His values-based leadership and deep commitment to business, people and planet has always inspired me and us and I know he will lead with purpose at heart.”
Juvencio shared his thoughts on Linkedin, saying: “I’m thrilled and excited to share the news that I have been appointed new CEO and President at Ingka Group and will start my new job in November 2025.
“I feel deeply grateful, humble and responsible for the trust and confidence placed in me. I know that our vision and commitment to affordability and low prices is more than a business idea, it is our responsibility to the many people.
“Doing what’s right for business, people and the planet is what drives our long-term success.”
Jesper closed his announcement reflecting on the community he has worked with: “To get to be a part of the IKEA community of 170 000+ colleagues across the last 30 years has been a privilege and a joy.”
