Ikea Names Manager for Kansas Store

February 19, 2014  by in Executive Changes, Furniture Retailing, Industry   

“IKEA recognizes the strong customer base for us in Kansas, Missouri and beyond, so I am pleased about providing the nearly 90,000 customers – who currently are shopping at IKEA elsewhere – with a store of their own,” Parsons said. “I also look forward to introducing new customers to our unique product offering and family-friendly shopping experience.”

Parsons, who relocated to the area from Long Island, N.Y., joined Ikea in 1992 as a part-time sales associated at the retailer's store in Hicksville, N.Y. Throughout the years, he has held various management positions, ultimately becoming a furniture sales manager at the Long Island store.

In 2003, Parsons became a member of the U.S. Retail Expansion team, where – as a project operations manager – he guided the build-up of new stores in New Haven, Conn.; Stoughton, Mass.; Draper, Utah; and Brooklyn, N.Y. In 2008, Parsons returned to IKEA Long Island as operations manager, eventually being promoted to deputy store manager in 2010, and then acting store manager.

“We are very excited about opening a store in the Kansas City area, where there are many IKEA customers as well as others who may not know us yet but are anxious for us to open,” said Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president. “Rob’s store management experience and background preparing new stores to open more than qualify him to manage Ikea Merriam.”