Kingfisher, the owner of several home improvement brands including B&Q and Screwfix, has announced the appointment of Sebastian Gundel as chief executive officer.

Gundel will join Kingfisher, and the company’s board of directors, on 1 February 2027.

He joins from European home improvement retailer OBI, where he spent over 14 years in working in senior roles and held the position of chief executive for four years. At OBI, Gundel led the company's transformation from traditional retail to a digitally enabled, customer centric, omnichannel business.

He also served as chief customer and digital officer, leading OBI's omnichannel transformation and digital innovation agenda.

His responsibilities spanned loyalty, marketplaces and ecosystem development, as well as the expansion of trade propositions. Earlier in his career, Gundel held operational leadership positions and a range of strategic roles across marketing, customer proposition and corporate development.

Before OBI, Gundel spent three years at OC&C Strategy Consultants, advising consumer and retail businesses on growth and transformation.

Kingfisher’s current chief executive Thierry Garnier will remain in role until 31 December 2026, when he will step down as chief executive board member. Bhavesh Mistry, chief financial officer, will serve as interim chief executive during the month of January to support a smooth transition, the company said.

Claudia Arney will continue as chair until the company's 2029 annual general meeting, ensuring continuity through the leadership transition, it added.

“Following a thorough selection process, the board is delighted to appoint Sebastian as chief executive officer. Sebastian 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 said.

“He will build on the significant progress made under Thierry’s leadership while bringing fresh perspectives as we continue to evolve the business. Sebastian has the board’s full support as he leads Kingfisher through its next phase of growth and value creation.”

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