B&Q boss Bill Whiting may stand down as early as next spring, creating a vacancy for one of the most prestigious jobs in UK retail.
Well-regarded Whiting, 55, is said by industry and internal sources to be ready to step aside after more than 20 years at the Kingfisher-owned DIY business.
Although an external appointment is possible, four in-house names are understood to be in the frame - George Adams, Ian Cheshire, Rob Cissell and Ian Morrice.
Adams is group commercial director for home improvement. Kingfisher board director Cheshire is international and development chief executive. Cissell, former managing director of Comet, is B&Q's commercial managing director. Morrice is managing director of B&Q Warehouse.
According to one internal source, it is an 'open secret' that Whiting feels ready to pass on the baton, although a definite date has not been set. Another well-connected source believed a decision on Whiting's replacement could come as early as this autumn.
Following the recent electricals demerger, B&Q is the centrepiece of Kingfisher's international DIY retail empire.
Sales at Kingfisher's UK home improvement division reached£3.75 billion last year, generating a retail profit of£360.1 million. B&Q's market share is now at around 13.5 per cent, but GUS's acquisition of Homebase last year means that competition may intensify.
Whiting has been at B&Q since 1982 and was marketing director and international managing director before becoming chief executive in 2000. He was not available for comment.
A Kingfisher spokesman said: 'Succession issues for our senior executives are kept under constant review, but no decision on Bill's eventual retirement has been reached.'
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