6 January 2025
KINGFISHER
PLC
DIRECTORATE
CHANGES
Kingfisher plc ('Kingfisher', the
'Company') today announces the appointment of Ian McLeod to its
Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 20
January 2025.
Ian is a seasoned retail executive
with over 40 years of experience across various different
international markets, most recently as Group Chief Executive at
DFI Retail Group, overseeing operations across 13 countries in Asia
with over 10,500 retail outlets. Ian's career also includes
leadership roles at Asda and Halfords Group in the UK, Walmart
International and CEO of Coles Retail Group in Australia. He later
joined Southeastern Grocers in the United States as CEO before
joining DFI Retail Group in 2017, based in Hong Kong. In 2010, Ian
was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in his native Scotland for his
contributions to business and retail.
Additionally, Catherine Bradley CBE,
Senior Independent Director, has decided not to stand for
re-election and will therefore step down from Kingfisher's Board of
Directors at the conclusion of the Company's 2025 AGM. Catherine
has served on Kingfisher's Board for four years, during which time
she has played an important role in the Board's engagement with our
colleagues and, in 2024, successfully stewarded an orderly Chair
succession process. Catherine has indicated her desire to reduce
her governance portfolio and dedicate additional time to her other
roles, including as non-executive chair of interactive investor
Limited. The Board would like to thank Catherine for her valuable
support to the Company, not least in her role as Senior Independent
Director, and wishes her well for the future. An announcement on
the successor for the Senior Independent Director role will be made
in due course.
Commenting on the changes, Claudia
Arney, Chair of Kingfisher's Board, said:
"We are delighted to have someone of Ian's calibre joining our
Board. His long and distinguished career in retail speaks for
itself and the depth of experience that he will bring will help
support the execution of our strategic initiatives. We look forward
to welcoming Ian later this month and benefiting from the new and
valuable perspectives he will bring to the Board's
discussions.
Whilst Catherine will be remaining on the Board until our AGM
in June 2025, I would like to thank her for her many contributions
to the Company over the past four years both as Senior Independent
Director and as the Board representative on the Kingfisher
Colleague Forum. In recent months Catherine has led the Chair
succession process and played a pivotal role in ensuring that we
have continuity of leadership at such an important time in
Kingfisher's strategic journey."
Enquiries:
Notes:
This announcement is made in
accordance with Listing Rule 6.4.6. The following information is
disclosed in accordance with Listing Rule 6.4.8:
Whilst at DFI Retail Group between
June 2017 and July 2023, Ian was a director of its associate
companies Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd, PT Hero Supermarket Tbk,
and Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. which are listed in Shanghai,
Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively.
Ian served as a director of
Southeastern Grocers from April 2015 to June 2017.
Between March and May 2018, Southeastern
Grocers implemented a pre-packaged reorganisation through a
voluntary Chapter 11 process.
There are no further matters to be
disclosed in respect of Ian's appointment under Listing Rule
6.4.8.
