Meet the Inter IKEA Group management team

Jakub Jankowski started his IKEA career in Poland in 2001. Over more than 20 years at IKEA, he has held a wide range of roles across the value chain, including in purchasing, logistics, business development and retail.

Jakub has extensive international experience from assignments in Poland, Romania, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden. A defining chapter of his IKEA journey was his time as a Store Manager in Poland, where he developed a strong passion for customer experience, visitation and people development.

Before being appointed CEO of Inter IKEA Group, Jakub was Managing Director of IKEA Industry, leading IKEA manufacturing. He has also held other senior leadership roles within Inter IKEA Group, including Category Area Manager and Category Manager for Logistics Services, as well as serving as Assistant to the CEO.

Jakub is Polish. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Science and Linguistics from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, along with postgraduate studies in Capital Investments and Logistics Management.

Henrik Elm has spent more than three decades at IKEA, building deep expertise across the entire value chain – from store operations and purchasing to global supply, logistics and manufacturing.

Henrik joined IKEA in the late 1980s and has held a wide range of leadership roles in Europe and across the business, including Store Manager in Italy, several senior purchasing, range development and supply roles, and Global Supply Manager. Most recently, he led Core Business Supply for more than ten years, shaping how IKEA develops, sources and produces its range at scale.

Today, Henrik serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Inter IKEA Group, with responsibility for finance, digital, supply and operations across the total IKEA value chain. He is also Chairman of IKEA Supply, IKEA Marketing & Communication, Inter IKEA IKEA Industry and IKEA Components.

Susanne Waidzunas is a leader with a big passion for combining business and people development. Her energy and inspiration come from the IKEA vision – to create a better everyday life for the many people. She thrives when she can make a difference for both people, society, and our planet.

Susanne is the Inter IKEA Group Global Supply Manager, being responsible for purchasing, transport, wholesale, IKEA´s in-house manufacturing, and related support functions across the IKEA value chain. She is also a member of the Inter IKEA Group management team. Susanne has more than 20 years of experience working in IKEA and has held various leadership positions across the IKEA Supply Chain.

Most recently she comes from the position of being globally responsible for Supply Chain Operations, meaning the development of IKEA transport and logistic services capacities and its operations, as well as the responsibility for managing the physical flow of the IKEA products from the suppliers to the stores.

Originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, Susanne has a Master of Science Degree in International Business from the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg.

Susanne’s expertise areas are Supply Chain Development, Supply Chain Operations, Purchasing Development, and Leadership.

Dennis Balslev started his 44 years IKEA career at IKEA Denmark in 1979 as a trainee. During his time at IKEA Dennis has held various assignments, among others, in the IKEA Denmark and IKEA The Netherlands retail organizations.

In 2013, Dennis moved back to Denmark to become Country Retail Manager for IKEA Denmark. After five years, he took on his next assignment as Country Retail Manager & CSO for IKEA Germany. Germany being the biggest IKEA Market has, with Dennis his leadership, made great movements towards a truly Omnichannel IKEA.

Dennis rejoined Inter IKEA Systems B.V. again on 1 October 2022. In his current role as Retail Concept Manager, Dennis is, together with his team, leading the assignment to protect, develop and expand the IKEA Concept, ensure its implementation and follow-up in all markets.

Dennis is Danish. He is married and has two children.

Over 25 years, Tina Kardum Funnemark has built deep expertise in strategic and corporate communications, brand positioning, issues management and spokesperson support.

Today, Tina is responsible for shaping clear, credible and consistent communication that supports the IKEA business agenda, values and long-term direction. She works closely with leaders and spokespeople across the IKEA system to strengthen trust, transparency and engagement with key stakeholders. She is also a member of the Inter IKEA Group management team.

Before joining Inter IKEA Group, she held senior communications and PR roles at IKEA Retail Sweden, Nestlé Nutrition and Länsförsäkringar, and earlier worked as a consultant within PR and communications.