Ikea’s largest retailer, Ingka Group, has appointed Erika Intiso as its new chief sustainability officer, succeeding Karen Pflug after five years in the role.

Intiso will take up the position on November 15, with Pflug remaining at the business until the end of the year to support the transition.

She joins from her role as country retail manager for Ikea in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, where she oversaw the retailer’s sustainability agenda across all three markets.

Intiso brings experience across retail, commercial development and business transformation, having held several leadership positions within Ikea.

In her new role, she will lead Ingka Group’s global sustainability strategy, focusing on embedding sustainability into business decisions and day-to-day operations.

She will report to Ingka Group people, sustainability and communication manager Ulrika Biesèrt.

Biesèrt said: “Erika brings extensive experience from across IKEA and a proven track record of advancing sustainability while delivering business results.”

Intiso added that sustainability was “a powerful engine for business growth” and said she was looking forward to building on the retailer’s progress.

Her appointment follows a period of investment in sustainability initiatives under Pflug, who has held the position since 2021.

During her tenure, Ingka Group expanded its Buyback & Resell services and matched 94.8 per cent of its electricity consumption with renewable electricity sourcing in its 2025 financial year.

It also reduced absolute emissions from its own operations by 70.6 per cent compared with its 2016 baseline.

Other initiatives included increasing the use of zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles for home deliveries, reducing food waste and improving energy efficiency.

Ingka Group operates Ikea retail businesses across 32 markets and accounts for 87 per cent of the furniture giant’s global retail sales.

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