Livingston leaves Screwfix for Howden Joinery Group

Andrew Livingston is to leave Screwfix to take up the CEO role at Howden Joinery Group, succeeding founder and CEO, Matthew Ingle, who is to retire next year.

It is understood that Graham Bell, currently operations and property director at Screwfix, is to replace Livingston.

The company released the following statement:

Howden Joinery Group Plc today announces that its founder and CEO, Matthew Ingle, has decided to retire in the first half of 2018 after 22 years with the Group. He will be succeeded as CEO by Andrew Livingston, currently CEO of Screwfix Direct Ltd, a division of Kingfisher Plc.

Andrew Livingston has been the CEO of Screwfix since 2013 and was previously Commercial and Ecommerce Director from 2009 to 2013. Before joining Screwfix, he was Commercial Director and Chief Operating Officer of Wyevale Garden Centres Plc. Prior to that he was the Commercial Director of Kitchens and Bathrooms at B&Q. Andrew is an independent Non-Executive Director at LondonMetric Property Plc, a FTSE 250 company.

Richard Pennycook, Chairman of Howdens, commented: "Having founded Howdens in 1995, Matthew has been its driving force for more than twenty years. On behalf of the Board and all our colleagues I thank him for his exceptional leadership. In addition to building a strong, growing and unique business whose culture is testament to his character, he has also created outstanding shareholder value. In recognition of his unique contribution to Howdens, the Board has asked Matthew to become Howdens' honorary Lifetime President.

"I am very pleased to be able to welcome Andrew to Howdens. Andrew has developed an outstanding strategic and operational track record at Screwfix which, like Howdens, has developed great relationships with its trade customers. Under his leadership, Screwfix has shown very strong organic growth, at the same time as a significant trade counter rollout programme. Andrew's appointment is a result of a rigorous and wide-reaching process conducted as part of our succession planning and we look forward to him leading Howdens through the next stage of its development."

Andrew Livingston said: "I am delighted to be joining Howdens. I have always admired the brand and I look forward to building on the excellent foundations to drive the business through its next phase of development and create further value for all its stakeholders."

Matthew Ingle, CEO, said: "Selling kitchens trade-only to builders was a new concept in 1994 and I must thank Derek Hunt from MFI for having faith in us and for backing the idea. When Howdens first started trading a year later with just forty people and five kitchen ranges, I could not imagine the journey we would undertake. Thanks to our builder customers, we grew quickly, weathered both the problems with MFI in 2005 and the financial crisis, to emerge as a business which in the past few years has grown strongly and invested significantly in its future.

"Howdens is well set for the future, and I believe that now is the right time for me to step down and pass the baton on to Andrew. As a company we have done well, are doing well and have great prospects for the future. I believe the company has the resources to look forward and to develop a new chapter in its development, and there are exciting choices for the new generation of leaders to make. I am very pleased that I will continue to be in touch with Howdens in the role of Lifetime President."

Matthew founded Howdens in 1995, with just 14 depots and first year sales of £1m. Under his leadership the company has grown strongly and consistently; in 2016 the company reported annual sales of more than £1.3bn, profit before tax of £237m and more than 450,000 account holders. Howdens currently operates from 650 depots across the UK, and sees scope for up to 800.

Andrew will become a member of Howdens' Board when he leaves his current employer and will take over as CEO following a handover period with Matthew.

Andrew Livingston's remuneration will be in line with Howdens' remuneration policy as agreed by shareholders in May 2016.

Save as noted above, there are no disclosures to be made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13 R.

Howdens confirms that it will announce its results for the first half of 2017 on 20 July 2017.

Source : Insight DIY Team and Howden Joinery Group

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