Philippe Tible to step down from Kingfisher Board

Kingfisher plc, Europe’s leading home improvement retailer, today announces that Philippe Tible, CEO Castorama & Brico Dépôt brands, will step down from the Board at the end of July. He will also step down as a member of the Group Executive team but remain with the business until the end of the current financial year to assist with the exclusive negotiations to acquire Mr Bricolage, which was announced in April and to which Kingfisher remains fully committed.

Daniel Bernard, Kingfisher’s Chairman, said: “We have a number of significant developments currently underway in France, including the roll-out of the Castorama ‘Do it Smart’ store format, the expansion of the Brico Dépôt business in France and into other European markets and, most recently, the announcement that Kingfisher is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Mr Bricolage. As we enter a new phase of our development, it is clear that the business needs the next generation of leaders to oversee these plans and so, as a result, Philippe will step down. On behalf of the Kingfisher board I would like to thank him for his very significant contribution over the years and wish him well with his remaining time at Kingfisher and for the future.”

Sir Ian Cheshire, Kingfisher’s Group Chief Executive, said: “I would like to personally thank Philippe for his important work developing our businesses in France, and more recently, Eastern Europe. He has put in place a first class management team and nurtured a pipeline of executive talent which will benefit us enormously in the future. As an example of this, I am delighted to announce that Véronique Laury, CEO of Castorama France, and Alain Souillard, CEO Brico Dépôt brand International, will both be promoted to the Group Executive team, which in addition to the main Board, is responsible for the strategic decision-making of the Group.”

Philippe Tible, CEO Castorama and Brico Dépôt brands, said: “We have created a strong business in France and across Europe over the past few years and developed a strong and capable team which will take our businesses through the next phase of their development. I have worked closely with Véronique Laury and Alain Souillard for many years and I welcome their promotion. I wish them well in the future.”

Véronique Laury, CEO of Castorama France, and Alain Souillard, CEO of the Brico Dépôt brand in France, Spain, Romania and Portugal, will join the Group Executive team as of 1 July. Kingfisher’s businesses in Poland and Russia will report into Sir Ian Cheshire, Kingfisher’s Group Chief Executive.

More details on Board members:

Philippe Tible, CEO Castorama & Brico Dépôt brands:
Philippe was appointed to the Board in October 2012 and has spent 11 years at Kingfisher. He was appointed CEO Castorama and Brico Dépôt brands after nine years with the Group. He previously spent four years as Chief Executive of Kingfisher France. Prior to this he spent five years as CEO of Castorama France. He holds responsibility for the Castorama and Brico Dépôt businesses across the Group.

Véronique Laury, CEO Castorama France:
Véronique was appointed to her current role in March 2013 and has spent 10 years at Kingfisher. Véronique has held a number of senior roles at Kingfisher including Group Commercial Strategy Director, Commercial Director of B&Q UK & Ireland and Commercial Director of Castorama France.

Alain Souillard, CEO Brico Dépôt International:
Alain is responsible for Kingfisher’s Brico Dépôt businesses in France, Spain, Romania and Portugal. He joined Kingfisher in February 2010 after 35 years at Carrefour. During his time at Carrefour, he was Chief Executive of Carrefour’s French hypermarkets division and ran Carrefour in Poland.

Source : Kingfisher PLC - Press Release
www.kingfisher.com