// Ikea appoints Peter Jelkeby as country retail manager to lead UK & Ireland markets
// He returns to Ikea from Clas Ohlson where he worked for the past 9 years, most recently as acting CEO
// Jelkeby replaces Javier Quiñones, who is now Ikea US country retail manager
Ikea has announced the appointment of Peter Jelkeby as the new country retail manager for its UK and Ireland division.
Jelkeby will replace Javier Quiñones, who left office on March 1 take on the role of country retail manager in the US.
Jelkeby’s appointment makes him the third boss of Ikea’s UK and Irish division in two years.
Quiñones had been in the role for less than a year, when he succeeded previous UK and Ireland boss Gillian Drakeford.
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A Swedish national, this will not be Jelkeby’s first stint with the furniture retail giant.
He had previously spent 20 years with Ikea, working for the company in Sweden, Russia, Vietnam, and the UK and Ireland.
He started as a part-time co-worker in his local store before working his way up to a number of positions, including store manager at Ikea Lakeside, Ikea UK sales and communications manager and Ikea UK deputy retail manager.
Before his return to Ikea, Jelkeby worked at fellow Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson for nine years.
There, he held the roles of executive vice president and chief operating officer, director of operations and most recently acting chief executive.
In his new role, he will be tasked with ongoing transformation of Ikea in the UK and Ireland amid a challenging time for the retail industry.
The retailer has made a push into digitalisation and inner-city store locations as it adapts to higher levels of renting in urban areas.
In London, Ikea now has an order point in Stratford and two planning studios in Soho and Bromley.
In February, it opened a new store in Greenwich – London’s first full-sized Ikea store in 13 years.
Meanwhile last November, Ikea announced 7500 job cuts across its global operations, including 350 in the UK.
“I’m delighted to return to Ikea UK and Ireland at such a significant point in our history, as we evolve and renew our business to ensure Ikea’s continued success,” Jelkeby said.
“Building on many years of solid growth, we are responding to the changing needs of our customers to secure an Ikea that is affordable, reaches more people, delivers excellent customer experience and is truly people and planet positive.
He added: “Our co-workers are at the heart of our business. I look forward to reconnecting with past colleagues and meeting all our co-workers across the UK and Ireland as together we continue to grow and develop the Ikea business, not just today and tomorrow but for many years to come.”
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