Chief executive, Kingfisher UK & Ireland

Euan Sutherland Chief Executive Kingfisher UK & Ireland

It’s been a busy year for Euan Sutherland.

The boss of the biggest DIY chain in the country has assumed greater responsibilities at the retailer, adding the vital group sourcing to his growing remit.

Sutherland then hired a chief executive for B&Q - Martyn Phillips - to ensure he could focus more on strategic group commercial initiatives as he takes on a more chairman-like role.

The changes sparked speculation that Sutherland is being groomed by Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire to take on the top job at the retail group.

While the 6 ft 5 inch smiling Scot dismissed such claims, there is no doubting the impact Sutherland has made on the business since he joined from Superdrug in 2008.

A marketing man by trade, in the last 12 months alone Sutherland has overseen a dramatic change in B&Q’s communication with its customers, conveying the message that B&Q can make home improvement easy, backed by in-store masterclasses. He has also attracted talent to the retailer, poaching Asda’s respected marketing boss Katherine Paterson last year.

Never one to miss an opportunity to snatch market share, B&Q jumped in early to acquire up to 31 Focus DIY stores after it collapsed in May. With one less player in the market, surely the next year will prove even more fruitful for B&Q under Sutherland’s watch.