IKEA has named David McCabe as its new country retail manager and chief sustainability officer for the UK and Ireland.
McCabe will take up the role on 1 July, succeeding Peter Jelkeby, who recently moved into the position of chief executive and chief sustainability officer at IKEA Germany following a period of growth for the UK and Ireland business.
He currently serves as global fulfilment and core services manager for Ingka Group, where he leads IKEA’s global fulfilment team.
McCabe brings three decades of experience with the retailer, having started his IKEA career at its Lakeside store 30 years ago.
Since then, he has held a range of leadership roles across Europe and North America, spanning expansion, logistics, innovation, commercial operations and retail management.
He returned to the UK and Ireland business as commercial manager in 2019, before going on to serve as country retail manager and chief sustainability officer for IKEA CZHUSK, covering Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia, for four years.
Commenting on the appointment, McCabe said: “It is a true honour to be rejoining the UK and Ireland team. So much has changed since I started my IKEA career three decades ago in the Lakeside store, but the constant has always been the fantastic people who bring our culture to life.
“I have been continually impressed by the team’s achievements. Now, together, we have a great opportunity to shape the future of IKEA in the UK and Ireland, as we continue to strengthen our focus on becoming even more accessible, affordable and sustainable for our customers.”
The appointment comes at a busy time for IKEA in the UK and Ireland.
Since the start of 2025, the retailer has opened nine new locations across the two markets, including city centre stores on Oxford Street in London and in Brighton.
It has also launched Plan and Order Points in Hull, Waterford, York and Dundee, alongside three smaller-format retail park stores in Harlow, Norwich and Chester.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter


