Tugba Ö. Åkesson is VP, Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Ingka Group (IKEA), where she leads one of the world’s largest recruitment operations & talent strategies, hiring more than 50,000 people every year. With nearly six years at Ingka and a career spanning global companies such as Manpower, Randstad, and Ericsson, Tugba has driven multiple strategic talent initiatives and successfully led diverse teams across functions and geographies.
Having lived and worked in several countries, she has a deep interest in cultures and how they shape people and organizations. She is passionate about co-creating strategies built on people’s strengths and is a strong advocate for trust-based, inspiring leadership.
At the heart of her work is values-based recruitment, combining the human touch with technology to create a Talent Acquisition function that is inclusive, impactful, and future-fit. She believes that by living IKEA’s key values, being inclusive, honest, reliable, and leading by example, organizations can create a safe, respectful environment that removes fear and builds trust.
Her passions include leveraging technology in talent, driving talent and change management, championing inclusive hiring, and positioning Talent Acquisition as a true business partner for long-term business success. What motivates Tugba most is the belief in unleashing every talent’s dream work, creating opportunities where people can thrive and enabling organizations to grow through the power of their people.
