Skip to main content
EN JPEnglish
Free parcel delivery on purchases over ¥10,000 for IKEA Family members

Helene von Reis, CEO and CSO of IKEA Japan takes new role at Inter IKEA Group from August, 2021

Corporate newsRetail, People and CultureFebruary 18, 2021Last edited: November 26, 2021
Today we are announcing that Helene von Reis, IKEA Japan CEO & CSO, will leave her role as of 31st July 2021 and will take on her new assignment as Business Area Manager for Food at IKEA of Sweden AB, Inter IKEA Group.

Since 2015, Helene is the President and CEO of IKEA Japan K.K. and she also takes a role of the Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Japan since 2019. In 2017 IKEA Japan was awarded the first prize of “Forbes Japan Women Award”. Helene also participated in various forums as the speaker both nationally and globally, such as Women’s Forum 2018 in Canada and Singapore, Global Environmental Action International Forum 2020. She is also the advisory board member of United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability.

“After 5 amazing years in Japan it is time for me to move on. The transformation of IKEA Japan into an omnichannel retailer, going into Tokyo city center with new shop formats and opening our store in Nagakute (metropolis of Nagoya) are movements that build for a great future for IKEA in Japan. I am also very happy that we today are close to 50-50 male and female leaders and sustainability is in the center to be a relevant home furnishing retailer for the many people in Japan.

Our 3,600 coworkers and their everyday work to create a better life at home for many people in Japan is our foundation for success. But only together with great partners and constructive dialogue can we develop into the future. I would like to thank you for being part of our journey into the future.” said Helene von Reis.

As the successor of Helene, Petra Färe has been appointed who is currently Global Business Area Manager for Bedroom at IKEA of Sweden AB, Inter IKEA Group. Petra brings experience from several different parts of IKEA. She started her IKEA journey with IKEA Sweden in 2000 as a sales co-worker and took different roles such as Acting Country Sales Manager, Sales Development Manager at IKEA Services Group Retail and Deputy Country Retail Manager at IKEA Poland. She is accountable for developing business strategy, range development and product offer including communication and the strategic purchasing for the range which are sold in all IKEA markets and channels worldwide.