IKEA & ÄLMHULT
Susann Pettersson
CEO Älmhult Municipality
Tina Petersson Lind,
CEO IKEA Älmhult AB
Tina
Let's Connect!
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Älmhult - from the roots of IKEA
to place development
Älmhult is a small town in rural southern Sweden — the birthplace and beating heart of IKEA. Like many other places, it faces the ongoing challenge of staying attractive to residents, visitors, and investors.
What makes Älmhult unique is that a global company has chosen to continue to grow and develop here. With strong roots in entrepreneurship, creativity and collaboration, IKEA plays an active part in the community and want to contribute by creating conditions for people and businesses to thrive here, together with the local community.
Together with Älmhult Municipality, IKEA Älmhult is now developing a shared strategy and clear positioning for the town, with initiatives that support education, entrepreneurship, and business development. The goal is to make Älmhult a resilient and inspiring place to live, study, visit, work and invest in.
Building on their strong heritage in design and business development, Älmhult is now moving forward with design thinking, incubators, labs, and learning environments focused on the future of homes and living. IKEA Älmhult is turning vision into action and redefining what corporate place community involvement leadership can look like.
At PLACExNordic 2026, we’ll learn more about IKEA Älmhult’s work - and perhaps even influence the solution of how global companies can help small towns shape the places of tomorrow.
Tina Petersson Lind, CEO of IKEA Älmhult.
Tina Petersson Lind is CEO and Chairwoman of IKEA Älmhult AB, a role she assumed in autumn 2023. Her journey with IKEA began at just 17 years old, when she started as a summer employee in the company’s switchboard and post office in Älmhult — the very place where IKEA was founded.
Today, she leads and develops IKEA’s operations in Älmhult, with a strong focus on local business development, place attractiveness and long-term destination growth. She has played an active role in strengthening Älmhult’s position as a place connected to design, innovation and heritage, including efforts to bring the Swedish Furniture Design Museum to the town.
As one of the region’s most recognised business leaders, Tina frequently represents IKEA in local and regional collaborations, business forums and public conversations about the future of Älmhult, leadership, transformation and community development. During a period marked by organisational change and transition, she has led with a strong commitment to both people and place.
Susanne Pettersson, CEO Älmhult Municipality
Susann Petersson is Municipal Director of Älmhult Municipality and has more than 15 years of experience leading public sector organisations in Sweden. Since joining Älmhult in 2019, she has played a central role in the municipality’s continued growth and development.
Before Älmhult, she held senior leadership roles in Ängelholm Municipality, where she helped implement Sweden’s first municipal development and service organisation model. She was also nominated for Sweden’s “Most Innovative Public Sector Leader” award for her work in digitalisation and welfare technology.
Known for her collaborative and forward-looking leadership style, Susann is passionate about creating resilient, attractive and people-centred communities.
