B&Q has hired one of parent company Kingfisher’s rising stars as commercial director on its board.
Veronique Laury will relocate from France when she takes up her position next month. She was previously group commercial director, but Kingfisher has been restructuring its group commercial function, with Kingfisher UK and B&Q chief executive Euan Sutherland taking on more of the group-wide responsibilities, meaning the group commercial director role no longer exists.
She replaces former commercial and marketing director John Colley, who was poached by Maxeda DIY last month.
Laury’s move is seen as part of her international development within the group. She was formerly commercial director of Kingfisher’s French business Castorama.
Her remit will be to drive product innovation and global sourcing synergies, as well as to continue the retailer’s tight control over margin. She will also help further develop B&Q’s customer proposition around “making it easier” for customers to carry out home improvements.
Laury’s appointment is the third senior level appointment for the UK arm that Kingfisher has made from its overseas businesses, following Sebastian Krysiak and Ebru Sayilan, who joined during the last 12 months from sister Kingfisher companies in Poland and Turkey.
Her hiring follows that of Katherine Paterson, who will join from Asda as B&Q marketing director later this year. Paterson is also a board level appointment, meaning along with HR director Liz Bell, there will be three female B&Q board members.
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