Kingfisher has hired Christian Mazauric – the boss of its Brico Depot fascia in Romania – to run B&Q, Retail Week can reveal.

The Frenchman will replace Michael Loeve who earlier this year declared his intentions to stand down from B&Q to run Netto International.

He will take up the position on July 1, and be succeeded at Brico Depot Romania by its current finance director Adela Smeu.

Mazauric has worked for the Kingfisher group, which also includes Screwfix and Castorama, for more than 16 years in various roles including B&Q finance director.

He spent several years in early in his career at M&S in UK and European roles.

Today, Kingfisher unveiled a 0.6% slide in group like-for-likes in its first quarter as a result of “continued weaker sales in France” and “some business disruption” as group chief executive Véronique Laury continues to implement her ’One Kingfisher’ strategy.