Thierry Garnier, the chief executive of Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q and Screwfix, is stepping down after nearly seven years to take the helm of Dutch supermarket group Ahold Delhaize. His departure date remains unconfirmed, but Kingfisher noted that he has a 12-month notice period and will continue in his role while a successor is found.
Garnier is expected to replace Ahold Delhaize's outgoing president and chief executive, Frans Muller, around the group's annual general meeting in April 2027. He described his tenure at Kingfisher as a “real privilege” and said he remains focused on executing the company's strategic plans to leave it in the best possible shape before his departure.
Garnier joined Kingfisher in September 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, at a time when the group was closing stores and struggling with falling profits. He prioritised fixing IT and supply chain issues in France and reversing sales declines. He later steered the group through the pandemic and a subsequent boom in home improvement demand, followed by volatile trading.
Kingfisher chair Claudia Arney praised Garnier’s leadership, citing the launch of the 'Powered by Kingfisher' strategy, innovations such as online marketplaces, and the development of the trade business. Wiebe Draijer, chair of Ahold Delhaize’s supervisory board, described Garnier as a “seasoned leader” with strong retail and digital transformation experience.
