Early Life
Karl-Johan Persson was born on March 25, 1975, in Stockholm, Sweden. He is the grandson of Erling Persson, who founded H&M in 1947. Persson attended the European Business School in London, where he majored in Business and Economics, graduating in 2002.
Rise to Success
Persson's career began in 2001 when he acquired the events management business, European Network. He served as the CEO of the company until 2004 and successfully sold the company in 2007. In 2005, Persson joined H&M, working his way up through the ranks, becoming Head of Expansion and Business Development in 2007. He became CEO in 2009, succeeding Rolf Eriksen. He served as CEO until 2020, when he became Chairman of the Board.
Key Business Strategies
As CEO, Persson focused on global expansion, opening stores in new markets and expanding H&M's online presence. He also emphasized sustainability initiatives and collaborations with high-profile designers to create limited-edition collections.
Philanthropy
Karl-Johan Persson is involved with the H&M Foundation, which focuses on improving lives through education, clean water, and empowering women. He also invests in start-ups through Philian AB and 41an Invest AB.