Martin Hansson will replace Peter Hogsted as retail manager of Ikea UK after DIY giant Kingfisher poached him to head its international operations.

Hansson, who is assistant to Ikea president and chief executive Anders Dahlvig and founder Ingvar Kamprad, will take up the position on October 1.

Hansson has been with the company since 1999 starting as operations manager of Ikea Taastrup in Denmark. He became store manager of Ikea Nottingham before taking up his present position in 2006.

Kingfisher has also wooed electricals retailer DSGi's group finance director, Kevin O'Byrne, to succeed incumbent Duncan Tatton-Brown.