He introduced the world Kallex cabinets and Poang armchairs, however can outgoing IKEA CEO Jesper Brodin assist arrange the world’s largest refugee group?
Brodin could have an opportunity, because the Swedish authorities introduced him as its candidate to become the new United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) final Monday. If chosen, Brodin’s profession pivot would spotlight an exceptionally uncommon trajectory amongst world CEOs: going from enterprise to a multilateral worldwide group. The UNHCR, the organization says, protects individuals pressured to flee, delivers emergency help in crises, and helps displaced individuals discover a place to name house.
Whereas some businessmen, corresponding to Donald Trump within the U.S. or Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, have entered nationwide politics, nearly none have crossed over to move a serious United Nations establishment. UN jobs are extra sometimes reserved for profession diplomats and politicians, whereas non-public sector leaders have been largely absent in UN management.
(Alexander De Croo, the designated new head of the United Nations Development Programme, maybe comes closest. He began his profession at Boston Consulting Group, and stayed there for a number of years, earlier than coming into Belgian politics like his father before him, and turning into prime minister. His spouse is still a partner on the consulting agency.)
“I used to be stunned to obtain the nomination. It was not one thing I had deliberate,” Brodin informed Fortune in a Zoom interview after the information broke. “However with my world expertise main IKEA in additional than 40 nations, I imagine I can carry useful expertise and management to the UN.”
Brodin’s non-public sector expertise was additionally a key purpose why the Swedish authorities nominated him. “The U.N. system can be strengthened by an individual with enterprise expertise, particularly given the main challenges now dealing with the U.N.,” the Swedish overseas ministry said in a statement endorsing the IKEA veteran.
Nevertheless uncommon, the selection is according to Brodin’s stated mission at IKEA, which was “to create a better everyday life for the many people.”
Underneath Brodin, IKEA has participated in a number of UN and UNHCR initiatives globally. These embrace an IKEA coaching and expertise program for refugees, which thus far reached over 3,700 people, and IKEA’s retail arm offering direct job alternatives to refugees from Syria, and extra just lately, Ukraine, Brodin mentioned. Brodin is stepping down as IKEA CEO in November.
The UN secretary basic will choose his selection for UNHCR, sending the nominee to member states for affirmation, by the tip of the yr.
Ultimately, if Brodin is confirmed, it might be as a result of a rational enterprise strategy is just what the UN wants proper now. The UN is in disaster and dealing with a cash crunch, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s funding cuts for the group.
In that gentle, Brodin’s monitor file of economizing on prices and assets at IKEA could also be the true recreation changer if he’s appointed.
