IKEA Malaysia has appointed Takeshi Murai as its new Country Retail Director, effective 1 September 2026, as the home furnishing retailer prepares for its next phase of growth in Malaysia.
Murai succeeds Malcolm Pruys, who has led IKEA Malaysia since September 2022. His appointment comes shortly after IKEA celebrated its 30th anniversary in Malaysia and ahead of a major expansion milestone — the opening of IKEA Kuching in December 2026.
The upcoming Kuching location will be IKEA Malaysia’s first store in East Malaysia, as well as its first small-format store in the country.
Nearly Two Decades with IKEA
Murai brings close to 20 years of experience with IKEA across Asia and Europe. He began his career with the company in Osaka, Japan, in 2008 before taking on various retail and market leadership roles across Japan, Sweden and Finland.
His experience in Malaysia began in 2024 when he became Store Manager of IKEA Batu Kawan, overseeing its retail operations and customer experience. He later assumed responsibility for IKEA’s Klang Valley stores.
As Country Retail Director, Murai will focus on keeping IKEA affordable and accessible while strengthening the connection between its physical stores and digital shopping channels.
“Malaysia is a diverse and dynamic market, where the way people live, shop and experience home continues to evolve,” said Murai, adding that understanding how Malaysians live at home will remain an important part of keeping the brand relevant.
The opening of IKEA Kuching will also play a major role in that strategy, bringing a physical IKEA retail experience to East Malaysian customers for the first time.
Building on IKEA Malaysia’s Recent Growth
During Pruys’ four-year tenure, IKEA Malaysia placed greater emphasis on affordability and accessibility, including lowering prices on more than 2,000 essential and best-selling products.
The company also expanded its omnichannel presence through e-commerce, collection points and delivery services, including greater access for customers in East Malaysia.
IKEA Food reached several milestones during this period as well. All IKEA Restaurants, Cafés and Bistros across Malaysia received JAKIM halal certification, while the IKEA curry puff entered the Malaysia Book of Records after 8.6 million were sold within a year.
With Murai now taking the helm, IKEA Malaysia enters its fourth decade with plans to continue expanding its retail footprint, strengthening its omnichannel experience and making its home furnishing solutions more accessible to Malaysians.
For now, one of the biggest developments to watch will be IKEA Kuching’s opening in December, marking the retailer’s first physical step into East Malaysia.