IKEA Malaysia has appointed Takeshi Murai as its new Country Retail Director, effective September 1, 2026, as the Swedish home furnishing giant enters its next chapter of growth.
Murai takes over from Malcolm Pruys, who led the Malaysia business since 2022.
With nearly two decades of IKEA experience across Japan, Sweden and Finland, Murai is no stranger to the Malaysian market. He joined IKEA Malaysia in 2024 as Store Manager of IKEA Batu Kawan, before taking on responsibility for the Klang Valley stores.
Now, he’ll be leading the brand as it focuses on making its shopping experience more accessible, affordable and seamless across both physical stores and digital platforms.
IKEA is heading to East Malaysia
One of Murai’s biggest milestones will come later this year with the opening of IKEA Kuching in December 2026.
The new store will be IKEA Malaysia’s first location in East Malaysia, as well as its first small-format store, bringing the IKEA experience closer to customers in Sarawak.
Murai said understanding how Malaysians live will remain key to keeping IKEA relevant as the way people shop and use their homes continues to evolve.
His appointment also comes as IKEA Malaysia marks 30 years in the country, building on three decades of being part of Malaysian homes.
Before stepping down, Pruys oversaw several milestones, including lowering prices on more than 2,000 essential and best-selling products, strengthening IKEA’s omnichannel offering and expanding access to customers across East Malaysia.
With Murai now at the helm, IKEA Malaysia is set to build on that foundation with more affordable home solutions, stronger digital experiences and, soon, its first-ever store in East Malaysia.