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Graham Bell to head up B&Q as part of Kingfisher reshuffle

Published: 10 September 2018 - Fiona Garcia
 

Kingfisher has announced a number of senior appointments across the business, with former Screwfix CEO, Graham Bell taking up the helm of B&Q UK & Ireland, as Christian Mazauric looks set to take up top spot in Kingfisher France.

The international home improvement revealed that current B&Q boss Christian Mazauric has been appointed CEO of Kingfisher in France to replace Marc Tenart who has decided to step down from his role.

Graham Bell will take up the role of B&Q UK & Ireland CEO on October 1
Graham Bell will take up the role of B&Q UK & Ireland CEO on October 1

The move, which becomes effective on October 1, has set in motion a number of other changes across senior management. Mr Mazauric, who will be succeeded by Graham Bell, has worked at Kingfisher for 17 years, holding a number of positions across Castorama France, including operational roles and then four years as finance director. Other roles within the Kingfisher business have included finance director of B&Q UK & Ireland and CEO of Brico Dépôt Romania. Christian took over the CEO role at B&Q UK & Ireland in 2017 and, since then, has successfully led the business through a significant number of changes.

Screwfix CEO Graham Bell will be replaced by Kingfisher group digital director John Mewett. Mr Bell has spent 20 years at Kingfisher, during which time he has held several senior roles, including B&Q operations director and HR director. He made the move to Screwfix in 2006, where he led Operations and Property before his appointment to CEo last year. At Screwfix, he has overseen the rapid roll-out of the Screwfix stores network, opening 60 stores a year, on average, for the past five years.

Meanwhile, Screwfix’s new boss, John Mewett has spent 10 years with the Kingfisher business, starting his career at Screwfix in 2008 as marketing and IT director. During this time he played a significant role in Screwfix’s growth and, most recently, has been leveraging Screwfix’s digital capability across the group in his role as group digital director.

Commenting on the changes CEO of Kingfisher plc Véronique Laury said: “Christian, Graham and John are all highly experienced Kingfisher leaders who truly embody our ONE Kingfisher values. They are proven operators who are already playing instrumental roles in our transformation.  I am delighted that we have the depth of talent to promote from within the company and therefore provide the continuity, stability and leadership for our colleagues whilst we continue our transformation journey.”

She added: “Marc Tenart has been a valued and respected colleague and leader. I would like to personally thank Marc for all the energy and diligence he has displayed in all that he has done.”

 

Comments

29 August 2019 21:24:56
Peter Earl

I HOPE GRAHAM BELL THE NEW CEO OF B&Q GETS TO GRIPS OF THE COMPANY VERY SOON.
MY WIFE WENT FROM SHADOXHURST TO GILLINGHAM TO GET SOME MORE TILES THEY DIDNT HAVE THEM TOLD THEY HAD THEM AT DARTFORD SPENT TWO AND A HALF HOURS IN TRAFFIC JAM THEN LIAM AT B&Q DARTFORD WHO WAS VERY HELP FULL SPENT 45 MINUTES LOOKING FOR THE TILES THAT B&Q COMPUTER SYSTEM SAID WAS THERE BUT THEY HAD NONE IN STOCK SO RANG CUSTOMER SERVICES AND SPOKE TO LINDA KERR WHO WAS VERY HELP FULL AND FOUND US THE SAME TILES AT WEST THURROCK WHICH WE HAVE TO COLLECT AS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GET THE TILES TO US OR A STORE NEAR US WHAT A GREAT COMPANY I DON'T THINK WE HAVE RECEIVE NO OFFER OF COMPENSATION NOT TO MENTION HAVING A TILER ON STANDBY ALL DAY

06 February 2019 12:45:23
John Garner

Dear Mr Bell. May Ifirst congrate yyou on your promotion yo CEO B&Q. I need your help. 2010 I purchased from B&Q a full kitchen for my home comprising 11 units 2 Larder unit. A range cooking and Extra. Sunday thApril I opened one of the corner units whch house 2 trays on the door and 2 trays inside the unit. As i opend it the top tay bracket snapped off taking the bottom tray and brackets with it. The kitchen units were made by Kessebohner A german comany which i am told B&Q dealt with by passing their regular agent. I have tried contacting the german company without success. My contract is with B&Q. All I eed are replacement bracs for both units so that my kitchen is complete. I ma hoping you help me 

 

Yours sincreely

John

Aledrman John A GarnerTel 01827 30180

)450251449

john.garner.304@btinternet.com

 

27 October 2018 00:52:54
B&Q alice

Disgraceful share price plummet seemed to accelerate with buyback scheme. No leadership from VL to help stem this plummet leaving investors seriously out of pocket. Dividends are pitiful and it's clear VL needs to start shutting down large chunks of B&Q stores as part of a more ordered and market friendly plan in order to stem the flow of losses. Problem is if VL sells Screwfix they lose significant profits, if VL sells lots of B&Q stores stock market confidence will just plummet, either way share price could go into serious freefall. I don't see a way out even with One Kingfisher and Unifying ranges. Just how does this work group wide with differing market requirements? Finally, digital investment sounds good but I didn't see a single UK B&Q TV ad until the summer was well and truly over. They just started advertising a few weeks ago.  The management team should hang their heads in shame in not driving through this missed opportunity. 

22 September 2018 17:45:55
B&Q bob

Ms Laury has overseen perhaps the worst period of BQ history under her leadership, staff have had their wages cut while witnessing their directors take massive rises and bonuses. The stores have lost their most experienced staff and then seen sales plummet. The obsession with oven angel throughout the group saw empty shelves for months in some areas of the stores costing millions in lost sales and the already wage reduced staff seeing bonuses dissappear as stores missed targets. She should go and go now

 


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