Ingka's New CEO Will Continue Legacy of ESG Values at IKEA

On 5 November, Juvencio Maeztu formally began his tenure as the new CEO and President of Ingka Group, the largest franchisee operating under the IKEA brand.

Writing on LinkedIn, Juvencio reflected: "Over the past three months, I have had the privilege to visit many of our markets across the world, meet our amazing colleagues and customers and learn from their reality.

"This is for me the best source of inspiration and the best school of leadership.

"Today is day one as CEO and I feel grateful to all colleagues who have been part of shaping my IKEA journey and leadership over the last 25 years," he continued.

"And just like every new IKEA product, this new role is an opportunity and a big responsibility to be part of creating a better everyday life at home for the many people at as low prices as possible."

Juvencio takes the reins from Jesper Brodin, who revealed in August that he intended to resign after three successful decades with IKEA and eight years at the helm of Ingka Group.

Jesper announced that he would move into a Senior Advisor position with the IKEA Foundation, beginning a new phase in his long-term relationship with the Swedish furniture giant.

Jesper Brodin's three decades at IKEA

Jesper launched his IKEA career in 1995 working as Purchase Manager in Pakistan, beginning a journey characterised by development and meaning.

After four years, he took on the role of assistant to IKEA Founder Ingvar Kamprad and then-CEO Anders Dahlvig, subsequently progressing through various senior positions in supply chain and product range management.

He was appointed Supply Chain Manager in 2011, going on to serve as CEO of IKEA Range and Supply, prior to his appointment as CEO and President of Ingka Group in 2017.

When revealing his choice to stand down, Jesper shared on LinkedIn: "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."

"Many years ago, I made a promise to our founder Ingvar Kamprad, to continue to keep the price of the hotdog at 5 SEK in Sweden," Jesper continued.

"It may sound like a small thing, but it stands for something big: our commitment to affordability, always siding with the many people and to never forget where we come from," he added.

This principle has been a central part of Jesper's tenure at the helm of Ingka, and it speaks to the emphasis the firm puts on the 'S' of ESG.

"As I now step into a new phase, this promise – and all it represents – is one I leave in the good hands of Juvencio," he says.

"I know you will continue to lead with care, courage and curiosity – and keep the price of the hotdog. Because it's never just about the price, it's about who we are at IKEA."

A legacy of sustainability

Jesper departs with a distinct legacy centred on values-driven leadership and environmental responsibility. He played a key role in integrating sustainability into IKEA's core strategy, drawing on the company's established principle that waste is intolerable.

"We were taught that wasting resources was a sin," he says. "The only way IKEA can be successful in the future is to be in a hurry to get sustainable."

He stressed that low prices and environmental responsibility must complement each other, describing this principle as crucial to IKEA's future viability.

Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ingka Group, is among those who acknowledge his impact.

Speaking about how Jesper has influenced her professional life, she says: "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."

But with Jesper stepping back into an advisory position, Juvencio is determined to lead with the same core values: humility, curiosity and purpose.

His statement on his first day emphasises that IKEA's mission is to create "a better everyday life for the many people", maintaining affordability, sustainability and people as central to all the company's activities.