Share |

Ikea

February 20, 2019

Vincent Bollore to be replaced by son as Vivendi board member, Ikea eyes launch of sales platform that includes rival products, and Heineken posts rising profits on the back of strong sales boost.

Vincent Bollore to be replaced by son as Vivendi board member

Billionaire Vincent Bollore, who is currently under investigation for his business dealings in Africa, will step down from the board of French telecoms giant Vivendi and be replaced by his son Cyrille.

IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91

January 29, 2018

The famously frugal founder of one of the world’s most iconic retail chains has died in his native Sweden, aged 91.

Known for driving a 1993 Volvo car, trawling flea markets for clothes, and flying economy class only, the IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad peacefully passed away from a short illness at his home in Småland, Sweden on 27 January.

Ikea's founder lets go of last official role in the business

May 6, 2014

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Swedish flat-pack furniture chain Ikea, has relinquished his last formal roles in the business he founded in 1943.

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Swedish flat-pack furniture chain Ikea, has relinquished his last formal roles in the business he founded in 1943.

Kamprad, 88, left his roles on the boards of the two foundations that control Ikea's assets in late December last year, but the announcement was only made recently.

Ikea founder moves home to Sweden after 40 years

March 21, 2014

The octogenarian founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has moved back to the home country, where he founded the family business, after four decades abroad.

The octogenarian founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has moved back to the home country, where he founded the family business, after four decades abroad.

Kamprad, 87, quit Sweden in 1973 in protest against the country's high taxes, initially moving to Denmark before settling in Switzerland in 1976.

He first announced his plans in the summer of 2013, but heart and back problems delayed the move according to the Kamprad family's spokesman.

Ikea France under investigation for spying on staff and customers

November 21, 2013

A number of arrests have been made at Ikea France over allegations the European arm of the Swedish family business hired a security firm to spy on employees and customers using police files.

Ikea France is being investigated as a corporate entity, and could be forced to pay compensation to any victims of spying.

Stefan Vanoverbeke, chief executive of the French division of the Swedish flat pack furniture business, along with his predecessor Jean-Louis Baillot, and chief financial officer Dariusz Rychert were arrested on Monday.

Ikea founder steps down from board, son takes over

June 5, 2013

The founder of Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has stepped down from the board of Inter Ikea Holding, the holding company of the iconic Swedish flatpack furniture chain.

The founder of Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has stepped down from the board of Inter Ikea Holding, the holding company of the iconic Swedish flatpack furniture chain. The chairman of the board, Per Ludvigsson, has also stepped down, aged 70, to be replaced by Kamprad’s son Mathias.

In a statement issued by Ikea, the changes in the board are described as a generational shift that has been prepared for over several years.

Kamprad, who turned 87 in March, said in a statement his retirement from the board did not mean he would stop working.

Ikea to become more open as next-gens up involvement

September 25, 2012

Ikea, the Swedish furniture giant founded by Ingvar Kamprad, will become increasingly transparent, the company’s chief executive, Mikael Ohlsson, said just days after it was revealed Kamprad’s three sons are getting more involved in the family business.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Ohlsson, who has headed the retailer since 2009, said he knows Ikea is often regarded as a secretive company.

Flat-pack philanthropy

June 28, 2012

The Ikea Foundation wants to be one of the biggest philanthropic foundations in the world. CampdenFB talks to its boss.

It’s a beautiful spring day in London. The weather is mild, the sun is shining – but the leaves are struggling to make an appearance on tree-lined Holland Park Avenue. Within days, a drought will be declared in this part of England, along with much of the south and east of the country.

Ikea founder to give additional €1 billion to charity

September 19, 2011

Ingvar Kamprad, the billionaire founder of Swedish furniture retailer Ikea, has promised to donate more than €1 billion to charity.

He has instructed the Ikea Foundation, which has owned Kamprad’s family business since 1982, to increase its charitable spending substantially, reports say.

Why IKEA and News Corp may fail

March 16, 2011

Succession planning is one of the cornerstones to running a successful family business, and without it families risk losing all they have worked so hard to build. Chris Owen asks what families can learn about succession from King Lear to IKEA

“Tis our fast intent to shake all cares and business from our age; conferring them on younger strengths, while we unburthened crawl toward death.” So declaims King Lear as he embarks upon perhaps the most misjudged succession plan in all literature.