JD Sports names former IKEA CEO Peter Agnefjäll as chairman

JD Sports Fashion has appointed Peter Agnefjäll as its permanent chair, effective 1 September. He succeeds Darren Shapland, who served as interim chair after Andy Higginson stepped down in July. Shapland will remain on the board as an independent director.

Agnefjäll brings extensive retail and board experience, having led IKEA Group as president and chief executive from 2013 to 2017 and most recently chaired Ahold Delhaize. His past roles include non‑executive directorships at Wizz Air, Deichmann, WPP and Orkla. The appointment follows a board dispute in which former chair Higginson attempted to remove CEO Régis Schultz, a move opposed by majority shareholder Pentland, which continues to back Schultz.

The board said Agnefjäll’s international leadership and omnichannel expertise will help JD Sports capitalize on growth opportunities and strengthen its global position in sports‑inspired fashion.