JD assembles Ikea chair after rocky period for retailer
The former boss of Ikea has been named as JD Sport’s new chair following a tumultuous period for the retailer. Peter Agnefjäll, who spent more than two decades at the Swedish home furnishing brand, is set to succeed Darren Shapland as the chair of JD from the beginning of September. Shapland was appointed to the [...]
Former IKEA executive Peter Agnefjäll has been appointed as the new chair of JD Sport following a challenging period for the retailer. Agnefjäll, who spent over two decades at IKEA, will succeed Darren Shapland as chair of JD starting from September. Shapland had been appointed on an interim basis after Andy Higginson's abrupt departure in April.
Higginson, who had served as chair of the FTSE 100 sportswear retailer, stepped down ahead of his tenure's expiration in July. He had cited JD Sports' "tough period" in the sportswear market and expansion in the US as his reasons for staying. However, it later surfaced that Higginson's departure was the result of a failed attempt to remove CEO Régis Shultz due to declining sales and stagnant progress in North America.
Despite several executives backing Higginson, he failed to secure enough support to remain in his position. JD Sports' majority shareholder, Pentland Group, had thrown its weight behind Shultz, further weakening Higginson's case. The retailer had agreed that it was "the right time for a change of chair," and that this decision was mutually agreed upon between Higginson and the board.
Agnefjäll's career at IKEA began in 2002 as a business area manager, where he eventually rose to become deputy chief executive over a ten-year period. He took on the top role in September 2013 and held it for four years before being appointed as a non-executive director of WPP in May 2026. The Swedish businessman joins JD Sports at a time when the retailer has warned of "muted" growth due to decreased consumer spending and cost pressures stemming from the Iran war.
Despite lower-than-expected pre-tax profits and profit guidance, JD Sports reported a 12% sales increase to £12.7bn in the year to January.
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