Kingfisher group ceo Ian Cheshire has been recognised in the New Year Honours list with a knighthood.
The boss of Kingfisher, which operates B&Q and Screwfix in the UK, has received the honour for services to business, sustainability and the environment.

Mr Cheshire was appointed to the Kingfisher board in June 2000 and as group chief executive in January 2008. He is also a non-executive director of Whitbread, lead non-executive member on the Department for Work and Pensions board, member of the Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group on climate change, and a member of the Business Disability Forum President's Group. In October 2012 he became the chairman of the British Retail Consortium.

Mr Cheshire was formerly chief executive of B&Q UK, from June 2005, and before joining Kingfisher he worked for a number of retail businesses including Sears, where he was group commercial director.