The impending departure of Kingfisher chief executive Sir Ian Cheshire is the latest instance of dramatic change in retail boardrooms.

The impending departure of Kingfisher chief executive Sir Ian Cheshire is the latest instance of dramatic change in retail boardrooms.

Over the course of the year there have been high-profile moves at some of the industry’s biggest names from Tesco to Sainsbury’s to Home Retail Group.

“It’s right finally to pay tribute to Cheshire not just for achievements at Kingfisher, but for his eloquence as an advocate for the entire retail industry”

Chris Brook-Carter, Editor-in-chief

In three of those four instances, Sainsbury’s being the exception, the type of leader appointed has marked breaks with the past.

Tesco turned to the world of FMCG to hire Dave Lewis. Home Retail promoted John Walden, the American originally drafted in to Argos for his digital nous.

And now Kingfisher, still seen by some as a business for ‘blokes’, has appointed Véronique Laury who runs its Castorama business, to succeed Cheshire.

A new generation

It is testament to retail’s versatility and ability to reinvent itself to better reflect changing consumer attitudes that a new and often different generation is being welcomed into the boardroom.

In Kingfisher’s case, Laury brings 26 years of experience in home enhancement retail. She is also steeped in the Kingfisher culture, having spent 11 years there, including time at UK flagship B&Q.

But it will be fascinating to see how she chooses to run the business and how she will draw on her experiences of leading innovation at Castorama in product and stores.

It’s testament to the Kingfisher culture built by Cheshire that the DIY giant was able to make an appointment that may be seen as both reassuring, because of Laury’s familiarity with Kingfisher, and also unexpected. There were other more-high profile directors in the running for the job. Laury’s promotion makes her one of just a handful of women to run a FTSE 100 business, which will guarantee plenty of column inches in itself.

Cheshire revealed his departure as he reported a “difficult” first half. But during his 16 years at Kingfisher he has steered the ship well.

Sales climbed by nearly a quarter and earnings doubled during his time in charge. Cheshire said on Wednesday he had achieved his aim of a delivering a “step-change” in value for shareholders.

What Cheshire does next is unknown. Perhaps he will take up a role with another retailer, perhaps not.

So it’s right finally to pay tribute to Cheshire, not just for achievements at Kingfisher, but for his eloquence as an advocate for the entire retail industry - a business where great careers can be made by old and new faces alike.