// Javier Quinones to become Ikea’s retail manager in the US
// He spent only eight months as Ikea’s UK & Ireland country retail manager
// Announcement comes just days before the opening of Ikea’s first new big-box format store in London
Javier Quinones is poised to become the new head of Ikea’s retail operations on the other side of the Atlantic, just eight months after he was appointed as the furniture retailer’s UK boss.
Ikea has confirmed that Quinones is set to leave his current role as UK and Ireland country retail manager to take on the role of US country retail manager on March 1.
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Quinones was appointed to his current role last June, when he replaced former UK and Ireland country retail manager Gillian Drakeford – who was promoted to Ikea retail system manager at parent company Inter Ikea Systems.
In the US, Quinones will replace Lars Petersson, who is retiring after 36 years with the Swedish furniture giant.
A spokesperson from Ikea UK told Retail Gazette that a local successor for Quinones will be announced in due course.
“His appointment supports Ikea’s continued ambition to create a better everyday life for the many people,” the spokesperson said.
Quinones began his career at Ikea more than 20 years ago, starting at one of Ikea’s stores in northern Barcelona as a part time co-worker before working his way up to roles like sales manager and store manager for the retailer’s Spanish operations.
He joined Ikea’s UK and Ireland division in 2014 as deputy retail manager.
His move to the US comes just as Ikea prepares to open its brand new big-box format store in Greenwich, south east London, tomorrow.
The new store is London’s full-sized Ikea store in 13 years and is being billed as its most sustainable one yet.
Ikea also recently announced plans to open a new Planning Studio in Bromley, also in south-east London, making it the second such store after the first opened in central London last year.
Last November, Ikea announced 7500 job cuts across its global operations, including 350 in the UK.
At the time, Quinones said the retailer needed to make difficult decisions to adapt to a “fast-changing retail environment”.
However, Ikea’s Greenwich opening has reportedly created around 500 new jobs and it also said it was exploring other locations in London for new city-centre format planning studio outlets.
The retailer said it was looking to create 11,500 new roles in total by 2020 through new openings and investment in delivery and digital operations.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that Ikea was slated to introduce a new customer service initiative in the form of leasing furniture as part of wider ambitions to develop a circular business model.
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