Former B&Q chief executive Martyn Phillips has bought an equity stake in leadership training business Leading Edge.

Phillips will take up the position of owner director at the firm which has worked with a raft of big retail names including Halfords and Mars.

Phillips became the DIY retailer’s chief executive in 2011, after holding positions as retail director and HR director, and departed B&Q last year.

He said: “Investing and becoming one of the team at Leading Edge was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. The quality of the team, their industry know how and their track record of success with high quality brands, made this an easy decision.

“Helping businesses thrive through bespoke, performance led people interventions is what I do and I’m looking forward to working with the team, existing and new clients.”