DIY giant Kingfisher will be getting a new CEO next autumn: Thierry Garnier. The Frenchman will be succeeding Véronique Laury, who stepped down this spring.
From Carrefour to Castorama & co
Andy Cosslett, head of the group that includes British chains B&Q and Screwfix as well as French chains Castorama and Brico Dépôt, just announced that the Frenchman has been appointed CEO. “He is a highly talented international retailer and proven business leader, with a strong track record over many years at Carrefour.”
The Frenchman is currently a member of Carrefour’s board of directors on the group level and has been the executive director of Carrefour Asia since 2012, where he has over 350 outlets in China and Taiwan under his care. Those stores employ 55,000 people and generate over 6 billion euros of turnover.
Ex-Champion
From 2003 to 2008, Garnier was managing director of the Champion supermarkets in France, which he successfully integrated and transformed into Carrefour Market. That feat got him an international director position in 2008. It might be a coincidence or it might not, but the news of Garnier’s departure comes barely one week after Carrefour sold its Chinese branch to local retail branch Suning.
Thierry Garnier will succeed his countrywoman Véronique Laury, who stepped down in March of this year. Cosslett did send her off with some nice words: “The Board and I would again like to thank Véronique for her energy, her vision and determination in driving the transformation, and for successfully laying the foundations for future growth.” Laury’s time as CEO and on the board will officially end in September.
