Brodin has come a long way to the top of the Kamprad tracks Gothenburg after

With more than 160,000 employees in 30 countries, Ikea is one of the largest companies in the world. Being the leader of this issue is of course a major responsibility. On the other hand, the question did not come like a flash of clear sky. Jesper Brodin has been with the company for 23 years. Meanwhile, his powers increased gradually.

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It all started with the fact that after graduating in industrial economics in Chalmers, in Gothenburg's hometown, he was very eager to enter the world and "test the wings" and had seen that 39, Ikea was looking for a procurement officer in Pakistan. Design already liked it and that the company felt concrete. In addition, he discovered – by reading The will of a furniture dealer as Ingvar Kamprad wrote in 1976 with colleagues – that the vision of the company was not only to make money for shareholders without the slightest sense.

"I quickly became fascinated by that," he says.

He wants to live near the sea

When we arrive at Jesper Brodin, he has just spent a week in Russia and Sweden. He is now back in the Dutch city of Leiden where he and his family left Helsingborg a little over a year ago.

"I sit in our seat and look on a sunny day.

About the Netherlands in general and Leiden in particular, he is only good at saying: most speak English, there is a vast cultural spectrum and the coast presents a nature of striking beauty. A few kilometers from his home is the same North Sea he grew up.

"The difference is that, like Gothenburg, they are used to granite clippings, but I'm good at living near the ocean, that's my place.

Although work is not everything in life, the case of Jesper Brodin played a major role. Through his various functions, he has lived in many parts of the world and has had various tasks. After Pakistan, he became Purchasing Manager for Southeast Asia. He was then assistant to Ingvar Kamprad, head of the kitchen and dining room division, head of purchasing in China, and managing director of the Swedish purchasing company Ikea.

A little over a year as CEO

And since September 1, 2017, he heads the furniture giant.

"I had an incredible trip and did not spend a lot of time thinking about the next step.In fact, I've never applied for a job at Ikea." However, at the earliest I received good advice to show what I could and I took this opportunity.

Have you ever done a job?

"It's already happened a few times, so it has generally been about what fits perfectly into life, geography, etc. But often, I've had the chance to do something easy. I sometimes have the feeling that "it's really too big and too hard for me." A feeling of irritation .In the beginning, a feeling partially uncomfortable, but one learns over the years to the recognize and it is he who triggers.

"When I took this mission, I had the same feeling, it was bigger than I could bear, and then when you say yes, the journey begins, I usually go there with great ears and with an attitude that we learn at each new mission.

READ MORE: Ikea reaches more and more online – sales increase

It's time to light up the heel

Now, the first CEO has passed and Jesper Brodin feels clumsy. The direction is indicated and it is as he says "time to light the heel and start". Part of this work is to continue expanding into more countries. In September, a warehouse in the 30th country, India, was opened in the one million city of Hyderabad. Thus, digital development and online shopping are an important step.

At the same time, Jesper Brodin is ready to participate and advance work on climate and the environment.

"If we want to make the right change in the world, ideologues and less innovative companies can not suppress it without the big companies joining in and assuming their responsibilities.And it's done." Cooperation with Development Goals sustainable United Nations is more intense than ever.

"I want to show that it is very good to do good business while having a positive impact on sustainable development.