Kingfisher (LSE:KGF), the owner of B&Q and Screwfix in the UK and Castorama and Brico Dépôt in continental Europe, said on Tuesday that Sebastian Gundel will become Chief Executive Officer effective 1 February 2027.
Gundel joins from OBI, the European home improvement retailer, where he served as CEO and led its shift from traditional retail to a digitally enabled, omnichannel business; before that he was OBI's Chief Customer & Digital Officer, overseeing loyalty, marketplaces, ecosystem development and trade proposition expansion.
He will join Kingfisher's board on the same date as his appointment takes effect.
Thierry Garnier will step down as CEO and board member on 31 December, with CFO Bhavesh Mistry serving as interim CEO through January to bridge the handover.
Chair Claudia Arney said Gundel combines "deep experience in home improvement retail and clear expertise in Kingfisher's strategic growth drivers with a strong track record of innovation and operational delivery."
Arney will remain Chair until the company's 2029 annual general meeting.
Gundel said he has "long admired the strength and diversity of Kingfisher's retail banners, its scale and its strategic ambition", pointing to opportunities across trade, digital, marketplaces and services.
The leadership change follows a period of improved trading under Garnier, who in September reported adjusted pre-tax profit up 9.9% to £404m for the six months to 31 July and raised full-year guidance to £595m-£635m.
Kingfisher's remuneration details for the new CEO will be disclosed in its 2026/27 Annual Report, with the company's next scheduled update due at its third-quarter trading statement on 24 November.