Kingfisher announces senior management appointments (UK)

Ian Cheshire, previously Chief Executive, International and Development, has been appointed Chief Executive of B&Q, the UK's leading home improvement retailer and Kingfisher's largest business. Rob Cissell, previously Chief Executive of B&Q, becomes Chief Executive, Commercial and Development. In this role Cissell will be responsible for the continuing development of Kingfisher's Strategic Supplier Management (SSM) programme and private label development, replacing George Adams who will concentrate exclusively on developing Kingfisher's UK Trade business. Rob will also establish a formal exchange programme to accelerate product, service and format innovation across the Group.

Ian Cheshire, Rob Cissell and George Adams will all continue to report to Gerry Murphy, Kingfisher's Group Chief Executive, as will the Chief Executives of the businesses in Eastern Europe, Italy and Asia.

Ian Cheshire, 45, joined the Group seven years ago and has been a director of Kingfisher plc since 2000. Prior to today's announcement Ian was responsible for the Group's retail businesses outside the UK, Ireland and France. Under his leadership over the last three years, sales and profits of those businesses have grown strongly. Previously, he was Kingfisher's Head of e-commerce and prior to that Director of Strategy. Before joining Kingfisher he was Group Commercial Director of Sears plc.

Rob Cissell, 45, joined Kingfisher 11 years ago and was Managing Director of Comet and Commercial Director of Woolworths before joining B&Q in 2003, initially as Managing Director, Commercial. Prior to joining Kingfisher he worked at Argos and Bhs.

George Adams, 48, has been with Kingfisher for 13 years during which time he has been Commercial Director for both B&Q and Woolworths. George has led Kingfisher's Group supply programme since 2002 and was appointed to the dual role of Chief Executive UK Trade in February 2005, responsible for Screwfix Direct and the development of a new Kingfisher trade format for the UK market.

Commenting on the moves Gerry Murphy, Group Chief Executive, said:
"Today's internal appointments are about applying the strength and depth of talented retail management at Kingfisher to today's challenges and opportunities. Ian, Rob and George has each made a huge contribution to Kingfisher's success over the years and I look forward to more progress in their new roles.
"Ian has led Kingfisher's rapid expansion across eight countries in Europe and Asia. His strategic leadership and diverse operational experience will be extremely relevant to B&Q's continuing evolution as UK market leader. He also brings to B&Q fresh perspectives on home improvement retail trends in some of the world's most dynamic markets.
"George has successfully established Kingfisher's global SSM programme and he can now focus exclusively on launching Kingfisher's new UK Trade format and on expanding Screwfix Direct.
"Rob brings a wealth of commercial and retail management experience to his new role as well as real flair for retail innovation. At B&Q he has accelerated the introduction of new products and development of store formats, not least the strong progress in mini-Warehouse revamping and development of the new Warehouse format. In his new role, he will help fulfil Kingfisher's potential as a truly international retailer, leveraging its unique diversity, as well as its scale."

Source: Kingfisher

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