The retailer has replaced incumbent chief executive Rob Cissell (pictured) with Ian Cheshire, previously the group's international and development chief executive.
B&Q's sales have been sliding since the start of the year and Cissell's future at the group had come under fierce scrutiny. However, he has been handed the new brief of commercial and development chief executive.
Last week, Kingfisher revealed that like-for-like sales at B&Q plummeted 7.7 per cent in the first quarter. Chief executive Gerry Murphy said that so far the second-quarter trend has not been more encouraging.
Cheshire is well regarded by the City and has been responsible for leading Kingfisher's expansion across eight countries, laying the groundwork for the group's burgeoning businesses in Russia and China.
Murphy said Cissell had made a huge contribution to B&Q's success and the changes were about 'applying the strength and depth of talented retail management at Kingfisher' to today's challenges.
Cheshire has been with Kingfisher for seven years and Murphy said his strategic leadership and diverse operational experience would be extremely relevant to B&Q's continuing evolution.
Cissell, who has been with Kingfisher for 11 years, will be responsible for the continuing development of Kingfisher's strategic supplier management programme and private label development, replacing George Adams, who will concentrate on developing Kingfisher's UK trade business. Cissell is also tasked with accelerating product, service and format innovation. Cheshire, Cissell and Adams will all continue to report in to Murphy.
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