Directorate Change

RNS Number : 5725M

Kingfisher PLC

19 September 2012

 



Wednesday 19 September 2012

Board Appointments

Kingfisher plc names Euan Sutherland and Philippe Tible as Board members

Kingfisher plc, Europe's leading home improvement retailer, today announces that Euan Sutherland and Philippe Tible are to join the Board as Executive Directors. Their appointments will become effective on 1 October 2012. Karen Witts, who was named as Group Finance Director in July, will also join the Company and be appointed to the Board on that date.

Euan Sutherland is Kingfisher's Group Chief Operating Officer, having joined the Company in 2008 as CEO of B&Q and Kingfisher UK. Philippe Tible is Kingfisher Divisional CEO, Castorama and Brico Depot, responsible for the Group's businesses in France, Poland, Russia and Spain. He joined Kingfisher in 2003 as Chief Executive of Castorama France.

The appointments are part of a planned evolution of the Kingfisher Board, following the announcement of the new senior management structure in February and the launch of the Creating the Leader plan in March.

Daniel Bernard, Kingfisher's Chairman, said: "We have a strong Board, diverse in skills, age and gender, and with an excellent mix of experience gained at Ikea, Tesco, Apple and Carrefour. I'm sure that Euan, Philippe and Karen will add to these strengths and I look forward to working with them."

Ian Cheshire said: "I am delighted to welcome Euan, Philippe and Karen to the Board. With Kevin O'Byrne (Kingfisher Divisional CEO, B&Q) already a Board member, it was natural that Euan and Philippe should follow suit as we pursue the next phase of our development through the Creating the Leader programme. I am proud of the strength in depth of the management team here at Kingfisher and that we have been able to promote from within for these board positions. These changes mean that all five of Kingfisher's Group Executive will now be on the main Board. I look forward to working with Euan, Philippe and Karen and the rest of the senior management team on delivering the Group's potential."

Euan and Philippe have confirmed that they have no directorships to notify in accordance with paragraph 9.6.13 (1) of the Listing Rules. In addition, they have advised that they have no details to disclose pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13 (2) - (6) of the Listing Rules.

Notes to Editors

Biographical details

Euan Sutherland, Group Chief Operating Officer

Euan was appointed Kingfisher's Group Chief Operating Officer in February 2012 after four years with the Company. His role gives him Group-wide responsibility for the key common range initiative, (which incorporates direct sourcing and own brands), and for developing our 'Eco' business. He is also responsible for IT, Property and Human Resources as well as the Screwfix business, where several new Group-wide initiatives, including multi-channel, are currently under development. He joined Kingfisher in 2008 as CEO, Kingfisher UK & Ireland. He was previously Chief Executive of AS Watson UK, owner of retailers Superdrug and Savers. He has 18 years' experience at retail and consumer goods companies such as Boots, Dixons, Coca-Cola, and Mars.  He is a non-executive Director at the Co-op Food Board.

Philippe Tible

Philippe was appointed Divisional CEO, Castorama and Brico Depot in March 2012 and is responsible for Kingfisher's businesses in France, Poland, Russia and Spain. He joined Kingfisher in 2003 as CEO of Castorama France, becoming CEO Kingfisher France in 2008, where he was responsible for both Castorama and Brico Depot. Before joining Kingfisher Philippe held senior roles at DIY retailer Leroy Merlin and furniture retailer, Conforama.

Karen Witts

Karen will join Kingfisher from Vodafone plc, where she is Chief Financial Officer for Africa, Middle East, Asia and Asia Pacific, a role she has held since June 2010. Previously she worked at BT Group for more than 10 years in a number of financial and general management positions, most recently as Chief Financial Officer of BT Retail and, before that, as MD Operations for Openreach.

Company Profile:

Kingfisher plc is Europe's leading home improvement retail group and the third largest in the world, with 988 stores in eight countries in Europe and Asia. Its main retail brands are B&Q, Castorama, Brico Dépôt and Screwfix. Kingfisher also has a 50% joint venture business in Turkey with Koç Group, and a 21% interest in, and strategic alliance with Hornbach, Germany's leading large format DIY retailer.

Further copies of this announcement can be downloaded from www.kingfisher.com or viewed on the Kingfisher IR iPad App available for free at the Apple App store.

We can also be followed on twitter @kingfisherplc

Enquiries:

Ian Harding, Group Communications Director	020 7644 1029
Sarah Levy, Head of Investor Relations	020 7644 1032
Nigel Cope, Head of Media Relations	020 7644 1030
Matt Duffy, Investor Relations Manager	020 7644 1082
Brunswick	020 7404 5959

 

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