IKEA appoints new chief executive
IKEA chief executive Torbjörn Lööf is to step down and be succeeded by Jon Abrahamsson Ring.
Ring currently leads the group’s franchising division.
Having started his career as a trainee at IKEA Örebro in 1998, Ring then moved to IKEA Canada where he worked for four years. This was followed by four years working as the assistant to IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and a subsequent appointment as deputy retail manager for IKEA China. From 2008, he worked outside of the business for nine years as chief executive of Filippa K and chief executive of Plantagen. He then re-joined IKEA in 2017 to work with Inter IKEA Systems.
Anders Dahlvig, chairman of Inter IKEA, said: “I am very happy that Jon has accepted the position as CEO of Inter IKEA Group. Jon brings with him a leadership solidly grounded in our IKEA values, a broad IKEA experience, a commitment to our long-term direction, a healthy sense of urgency and a strong strategic ability that I am confident will greatly contribute to IKEA’s continued journey to create a better everyday life for the many people.”
During a handover period, Ring will become IKEA group deputy chief executive from 1 March before being appointed as chief executive on 1 September.
Lööf joined IKEA in 1989 and was appointed as chief executive in 2013. Since then, he has launched a new strategy to make IKEA “even more affordable, accessible and sustainable” and led a major business transformation which has included the acquisition and integration of all IKEA range, supply and industry activities and the restructuring of the IKEA franchise system. In addition, IKEA has expanded to more than 15 new markets during his leadership and will soon be entering South America.
Dahlvig added: “I sincerely thank Torbjörn for his important contribution to IKEA over many years. I have had the pleasure to work with him both in his role as MD of IKEA of Sweden and now as CEO of Inter IKEA Group. I have very much appreciated his leadership, commitment to the IKEA values, common sense approach to things, openness and vision about what is right for IKEA. I am sure we will find ways to continue our cooperation in one way or another in the future.”
