Kingfisher appoints new chief commercial officer

The B&Q and Screwfix owner has announced Debarati (Deba) Sen as its chief commercial officer, starting from December. 

Sen joins Kingfisher from her role as chief executive of US flooring manufacturer HMTX Industries, having spent 26 years at Scotch Tape and Post-Its owner 3M Co – where she was most recently president, home improvement, consumer safety and well-being. 

The new role is based in Kingfisher’s head office in Paddington, London, and Sen will also become a member of the retailer’s group executives. 

Sen said: “I am delighted to be joining Kingfisher. With its strong growth opportunities and clear customer propositions in each market, Kingfisher is at the forefront of home improvement, providing retail and trade customers with affordable, quality products and best-in-class customer service. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on the strong foundations and further build upon Kingfisher’s distinctive competitive advantages.”

Kingfisher chief offer and sourcing officer Henri Solère is set to step down from his role early next year to explore new opportunities. Solère has been at Kingfisher for 12 years in a number of senior roles, including commercial director of Castorama and group category director, and will leave the business in January 2026. 

Solère said: “I am extremely proud of what we’ve achieved at Kingfisher over the last 12 years. We’ve made significant progress in evolving and delivering against our strategic priorities throughout this time, with our colleagues working tirelessly to achieve our purpose of helping to create better homes and better lives for everyone.” 

Of the appointment of Sen, Kingfisher chief executive Thierry Garnier said: “I am very pleased to welcome Deba to Kingfisher. She brings extensive executive experience in large multinational environments and multiple markets, and is recognised for delivering commercial strategy anchored in product, marketing, business transformation and cross-cultural leadership in the home improvement sector. We very much look forward to working with her, as we advance our commercial agenda and continue to build our capabilities in these areas.”

“I would like to thank Henri for his huge contribution to Kingfisher over the last 12 years. Examples of the strength of his leadership have been widespread across the group, including his pioneering of our kitchen, bathroom and storage categories, and the development of our own exclusive brands. He leaves behind a solid foundation for us to further strengthen our position, and we wish him all the best for the future.”