STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden’s government has nominated Jesper Brodin, a veteran executive at the world’s biggest furniture brand IKEA, to head the U.N. Refugee Agency UNHCR, saying on Tuesday he would bring valuable business acumen to the role at a time of funding challenges.

Current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi is leaving the post at the end of the year as his term ends.

Brodin, a 56-year-old Swede who joined the budget furniture giant 30 years ago, is stepping down in November as CEO of Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores worldwide, after seven years on the job.

“The U.N. system would be strengthened by a person with business experience, especially given the major challenges now facing the U.N.,” the Swedish government said in a statement.

“That

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