Angeleno Group Appoints Former Ingka Group (IKEA) CEO Jesper Brodin to Board of Advisors
Angeleno Group, a Los Angeles-based investment firm focused on venture capital and growth equity for companies advancing clean energy and climate solutions, has announced the appointment of Jesper Brodin, former Chief Executive Officer of Ingka Group—the largest operator of IKEA stores globally—to its Board of Advisors. The appointment adds a globally recognized corporate leader in sustainability and large-scale retail operations to the firm’s advisory bench as it continues expanding its portfolio of companies working on climate innovation and the energy transition.
In his new advisory capacity, Jesper Brodin will provide strategic guidance to Angeleno Group, drawing on more than 30 years of leadership experience across international markets. His expertise spans retail operations, large-scale capital allocation, and sustainability transformation within one of the world’s most prominent consumer-facing businesses. A key aspect of his background includes overseeing a €27 billion investment portfolio at Ingka Group, with significant allocations toward renewable energy, forestry, and circular economy initiatives.
The firm stated that Brodin’s appointment reflects its intention to strengthen the intersection between financial performance and climate-focused industrial transformation. Angeleno Group has long positioned itself as an investor in technologies and companies that aim to accelerate decarbonization, and Brodin’s experience is expected to reinforce that mission at the advisory level.
A Career Built on Global Retail Leadership and Sustainability Integration
Brodin’s professional journey is closely tied to the evolution of IKEA as a global business. He began his career at IKEA in a relatively modest operational role as a store manager in Pakistan. Over the following three decades, he progressed through multiple leadership positions across different regions and business functions, gaining experience in supply chain management, retail expansion, and organizational strategy.
In 2017, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ingka Group, the holding company that operates the majority of IKEA stores worldwide. He remained in that role until stepping down at the end of 2025. During his eight-year tenure, Ingka Group expanded its global footprint while also significantly advancing its environmental commitments.
Under his leadership, the company reported revenue growth of approximately 24%, even as it implemented aggressive sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint. Notably, the company reduced its operational emissions by around 30% during the same period. This dual outcome—growth in revenue alongside a meaningful reduction in emissions—has frequently been cited as an example of how sustainability strategies can be integrated into large-scale commercial operations without compromising financial performance.
In addition, Ingka Group invested heavily in renewable energy infrastructure. The company committed more than €4 billion toward wind farms and solar energy projects, effectively transforming portions of its operations into self-sustaining energy systems. In some regions, the company has generated more renewable energy than it consumes in its direct operations, contributing to its broader goal of energy independence and resilience against fluctuating global energy markets.
As CEO, Brodin also oversaw Ingka Group’s €27 billion investment portfolio, which included long-term investments in renewable energy production, sustainable forestry management, and circular business models. These efforts positioned the company not only as a global retailer but also as a significant corporate investor in clean energy infrastructure.
Recognition for Climate Leadership
Brodin’s work at Ingka Group has received international recognition. He was awarded the 2026 TIME Earth Award, which honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to environmental sustainability and climate action. The recognition highlighted his leadership in reducing emissions while simultaneously driving business growth through strategic investments in renewable energy and circular economy systems.
Beyond corporate achievements, Brodin has also played an active role in global climate advocacy and cross-industry collaboration. From 2020 to 2025, he chaired the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, a coalition of more than 130 major companies committed to reducing emissions and advancing sustainable business practices. Collectively, these companies represent emissions larger than those of some major economies, underscoring the potential impact of coordinated corporate climate action.
During his tenure as chair, participating companies reportedly achieved a 12% reduction in emissions while increasing revenue by approximately 20%, reinforcing the argument that climate initiatives can align with financial performance.
Broader Global Engagement in Climate and Policy Forums
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Brodin has been actively involved in several high-profile international organizations focused on sustainability, climate policy, and global economic development.
He currently serves as Chair of the Earthshot Prize, an initiative launched to identify and scale innovative solutions to environmental challenges. He is also Co-Chair of the United Nations Global Compact, one of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiatives, which encourages businesses to align their strategies with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.
Furthermore, Brodin is Chair of The B Team, a group of global business leaders advocating for responsible and sustainable business practices. He also serves on the board of the World Resources Institute, an environmental research organization focused on sustainable development, climate science, and policy solutions.
More recently, he was appointed a Distinguished Fellow at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate in April 2026, further cementing his role as a leading voice in global sustainability discourse.
Angeleno Group’s Advisory Network
Brodin joins a distinguished advisory group at Angeleno Group composed of leaders from science, economics, business, and public policy. The existing advisory board includes several prominent figures such as former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, economist Sir Andrew Steer (former President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund), U.S. Secretary of Energy and MIT physicist Ernest Moniz, Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold, and economist Laura Tyson, former Dean of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
The addition of Brodin is notable as he becomes the first advisor from a global retail organization to join the group. According to the firm, this reflects its intention to incorporate perspectives from a wider range of industries that are directly involved in large-scale supply chains, consumer markets, and operational sustainability transformations.
Angeleno Group emphasized that its advisory structure is designed to support both investment strategy and portfolio company development. Advisors contribute insights on market trends, technological innovation, regulatory developments, and long-term sustainability frameworks that affect clean energy and climate-focused industries.
Perspective from Angeleno Group Leadership
Daniel Weiss, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Angeleno Group, described Brodin’s appointment as a significant addition at a time when global markets are increasingly aligned with clean technology investment opportunities.
He highlighted Brodin’s experience in transforming a major global retailer into a sustainability-driven organization, noting that the executive’s leadership demonstrated how environmental objectives can be integrated into a company’s core business strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative.
According to Weiss, Brodin’s ability to translate sustainability commitments into measurable financial and operational outcomes makes him particularly valuable to companies navigating the transition toward lower-carbon business models. His experience engaging with both corporate leaders and policymakers is also expected to benefit entrepreneurs within Angeleno Group’s portfolio.
Brodin’s Own Perspective on the Appointment
Brodin expressed that his career has consistently been guided by the belief that sustainability and business performance are not opposing goals, but mutually reinforcing ones when properly integrated into corporate strategy.
He noted that Angeleno Group shares a similar philosophy, having spent decades investing in companies that aim to address environmental challenges through innovation and scalable business models. His decision to join the advisory board reflects alignment with the firm’s mission and its long-standing focus on climate-related investment opportunities.
Brodin also indicated that he looks forward to supporting portfolio companies as they grow and scale their technologies, particularly those involved in renewable energy, electrification, and sustainable materials. He emphasized that the transition to a low-carbon economy represents not only an environmental necessity but also one of the most significant investment opportunities of the coming decades.
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