Team Member Name

In her role, Mercedes leads the development of IKEA’s second-hand marketplace, creating a vibrant community where people can easily buy and sell pre-owned IKEA furniture. By connecting individuals with each other and with IKEA, the marketplace makes passing on home furnishings simple and rewarding—helping to extend product lifespans and make IKEA solutions more affordable.

Mercedes has been with IKEA since 2007, starting as a Sustainability Manager in Spain and Portugal. In 2017, she moved to Sweden to spearhead global initiatives on equality and fairness within IKEA’s sustainability strategy. Since 2022, she has been driving innovation and business transformation, focusing on making second-hand shopping an integral part of the IKEA experience. Under her leadership, the IKEA Second-hand Marketplace was rapidly launched in Madrid and Oslo, with successful early scaling across Spain and Norway. Now, she and her team are laying the foundation to expand the marketplace globally.

With 20 years of experience in sustainability, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and social entrepreneurship, Mercedes specialises in using innovation to reshape business models in retail sector. Passionate about empowering people to drive change, she is dedicated to tackling inequality and climate challenges. She holds a degree in chemistry and master’s degrees in ESG accountability, social auditing, and civil society development.