The former boss of Ikea has been named as JD Sports’ new chair following a tumultuous period for the retailer.

Peter Agnefjäll, who spent more than two decades at the Swedish home furnishings brand and oversaw its global expansion during his tenure as chief executive from 2013 to 2017, is set to succeed Darren Shapland as chair of JD Sports from the beginning of September. His appointment brings large-scale international retail and e-commerce transformation experience to a company navigating slowing growth and an ambitious US push that includes the acquisitions of Finish Line in 2018 and DTLR in 2021.

Shapland was appointed on an interim basis after the abrupt departure of Andy Higginson in April.

Higginson stepped down as chair of the FTSE 100 sportswear retailer ahead of his tenure expiring in July, in line with the company’s annual general meeting.

At the time, he said he was “proud of his time” at the company, which had overseen a “tough period” in the sportswear market and expanded the brand in the US.

It later emerged that Higginson’s departure followed an attempted coup after he failed to persuade board colleagues that chief executive Régis Schultz should be removed because of slowing sales and stalled progress in North America.

According to the Financial Times, which first reported the news, a number of JD Sports executives were said to have agreed with Higginson, but the chair did not secure enough backing to avoid being forced out himself. The retailer’s majority shareholder, Pentland Group, backed Shultz, dealing Higginson a blow. Pentland, the privately owned British conglomerate that acquired JD Sports in 2005, retains decisive influence over the board.

JD hit with ‘muted’ growth

At the time, JD Sports said it had been “mutually agreed” between the former chair and the board that this “is the right time for a change of chair”.

“There has been no disagreement about the board’s continued support for the chief executive,” it added.

Agnefjäll joined Ikea as a business area manager in 2002 before rising to deputy chief executive over a 10-year period. He became chief executive in September 2013 and held the role for four years.

He was also appointed a non-executive director of WPP in May 2026.

He joins the blue-chip retailer after it warned of “muted” growth amid weaker consumer spending and cost pressures from the Iran war. JD’s caution mirrors a broader sportswear slowdown, with major brands including Nike and Adidas also reporting softer demand as post-pandemic consumer spending on athleticwear cools.

Pre-tax profit at the FTSE 100 firm fell 12 per cent to £629m in the year to January, even as sales rose 12 per cent to £12.7bn.

The retailer also issued wider profit guidance than it had been “previously planning” to reflect the “uncertainty” caused by the Iran war, forecasting pre-tax profit of between £750m and £850m for the next year.