Appointment

Kingfisher PLC
7 January 2002


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday 7 January 2002


                      KINGFISHER DIRECTORATE ANNOUNCEMENT

                            GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR


Kingfisher plc is pleased to announce that Helen Weir, Group Finance Director,
is expecting her third child and will be on maternity leave between mid April,
after the full year results, and August.

During her absence her responsibilities will be assumed by Ian Cheshire, Group
Executive Director and CEO of e-Kingfisher.  Mr Cheshire will continue as CEO
of e-Kingfisher during the period.


                                    -ends-

                               Notes to Editors


*        Kingfisher is one of Europe's leading retailers, operating in the
         international Home Improvement, Electrical and Furniture markets.
         More than half of the Group's turnover arises outside the UK, making
         it the UK's most international retailer.  Kingfisher employs more than
         90,000 people in over 1,300 stores across 16 countries and includes
         some of the best known retail brands in Europe, including B&Q,
         Castorama, Comet, Darty and BUT

*        Ian Cheshire, 41, was appointed as a Kingfisher Executive Director in
         June 2000 and has been CEO of e-Kingfisher since May 2000.  He was
         previously Group Director of Strategy and Development.  Before joining
         Kingfisher he worked for Boston Consulting Group, Guinness plc and a
         number of retail businesses including Sears plc where he was Group
         Commercial Director

*        Helen Weir, 38, was appointed to the Kingfisher Board as Group Finance
         Director in October 2000.  She was previously Finance Director at B&Q
         from August 1997.  Before joining B&Q in 1995, she held a senior
         position at McKinsey & Co.  She is also a non-executive director of
         Skillsgroup plc.




Further enquiries:


Kingfisher plc
Andrew Mills, Director of Corporate Affairs                [phone]

France
Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Communications         [phone]

Kingfisher Website                                           www.kingfisher.com

The Maitland Consultancy, Duncan Campbell-Smith            [phone]