He introduced the world Kallex cabinets and Poang armchairs, however can outgoing IKEA CEO Jesper Brodin assist manage the world’s largest refugee group?
Brodin might 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 folks pressured to flee, delivers emergency help in crises, and helps displaced folks discover a place to name dwelling.
Whereas some businessmen, corresponding to Donald Trump within the U.S. or Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, have entered nationwide politics, just about none have crossed over to move a serious United Nations establishment. UN jobs are extra usually reserved for profession diplomats and politicians, whereas personal 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 shocked to obtain the nomination. It was not one thing I had deliberate,” Brodin instructed 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 deliver useful expertise and management to the UN.”
Brodin’s personal 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 going through the U.N.,” the Swedish international ministry said in a statement endorsing the IKEA veteran.
Nevertheless uncommon, the selection is per Brodin’s stated mission at IKEA, which was “to create a better everyday life for the many people.”
Beneath Brodin, IKEA has participated in a number of UN and UNHCR initiatives globally. These embrace an IKEA coaching and expertise program for refugees, which to this point reached over 3,700 people, and IKEA’s retail arm offering direct job alternatives to refugees from Syria, and extra not too long ago, Ukraine, Brodin stated. Brodin is stepping down as IKEA CEO in November.
The UN secretary normal will choose his selection for UNHCR, sending the nominee to member states for affirmation, by the top of the yr.
In the long run, 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 going through a cash crunch, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s funding cuts for the group.
In that gentle, Brodin’s observe report of economizing on prices and assets at IKEA could also be the actual sport changer if he’s appointed.
