Ikea Group has promoted company veteran Jesper Brodin to take over as chief executive as it steps up efforts to integrate its furniture stores and online business.

Brodin, 48, has worked at Ikea for 22 years and is currently head of range and supply chain development. He will become CEO in September after his predecessor Peter Agnefjall, 46, said he was resigning after four years in the top job.

Consultancy Kantar Retail’s Simon Johnstone said Brodin, who is Swedish, was a good choice given his immersion in the culture of the company.

“His challenge will be making Ikea more accessible to more people, while accommodating how people want to shop,” he said.

The web of companies that make up Ikea has recently focused ownership of retail operations, which also include shopping centres and food retail, on Ikea Group. Supply chain management and design has transferred to brand owner and franchisor Inter Ikea.

Hopes are that with Ikea Group focusing fully on retail, it will be better placed to defend its market-leading position and maintain growth as competition and consumer expectations evolve.

While sticking to its strategy to keep prices low with large out-of-town stores and self-assembly of products, Ikea is testing new store formats such as smaller downtown stores and pickup-points, as well as rolling out online.