LONDON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Kingfisher, Europe'slargest home improvements retailer, said on Wednesdaylongstanding chief executive Ian Cheshire would step down beforethe end of its financial year and be succeeded by VeroniqueLaury, the boss of French unit Castorama.
The succession plan was announced as Kingfisher posted flatfirst-half profit, as good weather in the first quarter wasoffset by a tougher second quarter.
The firm, which runs the B&Q and Screwfix chains in Britainand Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, saidit made an underlying pretax profit of 364 million pounds($586.8 million) in the 26 weeks to Aug. 2.
That compares to analysts' average forecast of 360 millionpounds, according to a company poll.
Kingfisher had a strong first quarter as fine weather drovesales at stores open over a year up 6.1 percent but experienceda sharp slowdown in its second quarter.
The firm cautioned in July that its markets in the secondquarter, notably in June, had been slower than anticipated,particularly in France and Poland. ($1 = 0.6203 British Pounds) (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton)