For years, the United Nations has looked to the private sector to help bail the world body out as governments scale back funding for a range of humanitarian and development challenges. But it has rarely looked to the corporate world to actually run its principal agencies, favoring former politicians, diplomats, and hardened veterans of the U.N. system.
Jesper Brodin, the outgoing CEO of Ingka Group, which owns and manages the vast majority of the world’s IKEA furniture stores, hopes to change that. Nominated by Sweden, Brodin is running a campaign to become the U.N. high commissioner for refugees. He recognizes he does not have the typical resume for a U.N. leader, but perhaps the deepening financial crisis provides an opening.
“I am the peacock in the land of penguins,” he told Devex in a recent interview. “I am the profile that stands out in the crowd.”
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
