JD Sports Appoints Former IKEA Chief Peter Agnefjäll as New Chair
Agnefjäll, with over two decades of experience at the furniture giant, will take over the role in September amidst the retailer's efforts to reverse declining sales.
Peter Agnefjäll, formerly the head of IKEA, has been appointed as the new chair of JD Sports, effective from the beginning of September. The appointment comes as the sportswear retailer seeks to navigate a period of declining sales and stabilize its performance.
Agnefjäll, who spent more than 20 years with IKEA, will succeed Darren Shapland, who had been serving as interim chair. Shapland took over following the unexpected departure of Andy Higginson in April. Higginson's exit occurred after he failed to secure board support to remove chief executive Régis Schultz, who had faced criticism over dwindling sales and slow progress in North America.
Sources indicated that while some JD Sports executives agreed with Higginson's assessment, he did not garner sufficient backing to oust Schultz. The company's majority shareholder, Pentland Group, publicly supported Schultz, stating it was a mutual agreement for a change in chair and that there was no disagreement regarding continued support for the CEO.
Higginson, upon his departure, expressed pride in his tenure, highlighting his oversight during a challenging period for the sportswear market and the brand's expansion in the United States.
Agnefjäll brings extensive board experience to JD Sports. His previous roles include non-executive director positions at Wizz Air and investment firm Orkla, a board member at Deichmann, and chair of the board at food retail group Ahold Delhaize. He is currently a non-executive director at the advertising firm WPP.
JD Sports experienced a drop in underlying sales during the crucial Christmas period of 2025. In recent trading, shares in JD Sports rose 0.81 percent, or 0.76 pence, to 94.26 pence on Friday morning, following a more than nine percent increase over the past year.
In a statement, Agnefjäll expressed enthusiasm for the role, noting JD Sports' strong global position, customer connection, brand partnerships, and omni-channel strategy. He stated his intention to leverage these strengths, deepen international market roots, and solidify the company's position in an evolving retail landscape.