Ikea’s largest retail operator, Ingka Group, has appointed Erika Intiso as its new chief sustainability officer, with the leadership change taking effect on 15 November 2026.
Intiso will succeed Karen Pflug, who has held the chief sustainability officer position since 2021 and will remain with the business until the end of the year to support the transition.
The incoming chief sustainability officer brings experience across the Ikea value chain, including retail, commercial development, and business transformation. Most recently, she served as country retail manager for Ikea in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, where she was also responsible for advancing sustainability across the three markets.
In her new role, Intiso will lead Ingka Group’s sustainability agenda, with a focus on building on existing initiatives and further embedding sustainability into business decisions and day-to-day operations. She will report to Ulrika Biesèrt, group people, sustainability & communication manager.
Ingka Group operates Ikea retail businesses in 32 markets and represents 87% of Ikea retail sales. Its other business areas are Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres.
Biesèrt said Intiso had demonstrated an ability to advance sustainability while delivering commercial results.
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“As we take the next leap in integrating sustainability across our business, her leadership will be instrumental in driving further action,” she noted.
Intiso said her experience across the business had reinforced the commercial value of sustainability.
“Working across the Ikea value chain has proven to me that sustainability is a powerful engine for business growth. I know firsthand how vital it is to translate our ambitions into tangible actions that benefit our customers, co-workers, and communities,” she commented.
Pflug’s tenure as chief sustainability officer has seen Ingka Group expand its circular services, including Buyback & Resell, and make progress on operational emissions and renewable electricity.
In financial year 2025, the group said it matched 94.8% of its electricity consumption with renewable electricity sourcing. It also reported a 70.6% reduction in absolute emissions from its own operations (Scope 1 and 2) compared with its FY16 baseline.
Other initiatives have included increasing zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles for home deliveries, reducing food waste, improving energy efficiency and supporting refugees through employment programmes.
Since 2019, Ingka Group’s Skills for Employment initiative has supported more than 4,300 refugees.
Biesèrt thanked Pflug for her contribution, saying she had helped establish a strong foundation for the company’s ongoing sustainability work.
[image credit: Ingka Group]
