JD Sports appoints former IKEA boss Peter Agnefjäll as chair
Published: 02:26 07 Aug 2026 EDT
JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD., OTC:JDSPY) has appointed Peter Agnefjäll as chair of the board with effect from 1 September 2026.
Agnefjäll succeeds Darren Shapland, who has served as interim chair of the sports and fashion retailer since the company's annual general meeting on 21 July 2026. Shapland will remain on the board as an independent director.
The appointment follows a search process led by senior independent director Kath Smith and the Board with support from an external executive search firm.
Agnefjäll spent almost two decades at IKEA Group, where he served as president and CEO from 2013 to 2017. He later served as chair of Ahold Delhaize from 2021 to 2025, having previously been vice chair and non-executive director. He is currently a non-executive director of WPP and previously served on the board of Orkla from 2018 to 2026. His other non-executive roles have included Deichmann and Wizz Air.
Darren Shapland said: "On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Peter as chair. He brings an exceptional combination of international retail leadership, Board experience and a proven track record of overseeing growth and transformation in complex global businesses.
"His experience and perspective will be invaluable to JD's board and executive team as the group continues to execute against its strategic objectives and capitalise on the significant opportunities ahead."
Agnefjäll said: "JD has built a powerful global position in sports and sport-inspired fashion, with a unique connection to its core customer, strong brand partnerships, carefully curated and vibrant stores, and a clear, defined omni-channel strategy.
"I am excited to be joining the group and look forward to working with the board and leadership team to leverage JD's strengths, deepening its roots in international markets and affirming its position in a rapidly evolving retail landscape."
