(Alliance News) - Home improvement products retailer Kingfisher PLC said Wednesday it hired Bernard Bot as its new permanent finance chief effective from later in October, with the current temporary incumbent becoming transformation & development head.
Bot will take up the chief financial officer role at the FTSE 100-listed firm from October 21.
Until recently, Bot was finance chief at formerly New York-listed travel technology platform Travelport Worldwide. Prior to this, he was CFO at Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus from 2014 until its acquisition by International Consolidated Airlines Group PLC in 2015 and had served as CFO and interim CEO at parcel delivery firm TNT Express NV.
"Bernard is a highly experienced CFO whose credentials and track record are ideally suited to Kingfisher," newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer Thierry Garnier said.
"He played a central role in the successful transformations at both TNT and Travelport, where he also gained a deep knowledge of technology and digital services, and he has a career-long understanding of logistics and supply chain optimisation," Garnier added. "His career at international businesses has also given him strong capital markets expertise as the group CFO of companies listed in the US, UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. We look forward to him getting started later this month."
Garnier took up the helm at the Brico Depot, Castorama and Screwfix owner in late September amid flagging sales growth. He replaced former boss Veronique Laury - in post since 2015 - after her ONE Kingfisher restructuring plan failed to restore profitability.
Bot will replace Interim Chief Financial Officer John Wartig who took up the role in April. Wartig, meanwhile, will become chief transformation & development officer.
"I am also delighted that John will be staying at Kingfisher as our chief transformation & development officer," Garnier said. "In the short time he has been here, he has made a notable impact both in finance and in our ongoing transformation, our IT capabilities and our property portfolio. The knowledge he has built up already, as well as his expertise in these strategically key areas, will be extremely valuable for the business going forward."
Shares in Kingfisher were 0.8% higher at 190.20 pence in London on Wednesday.
By Ahren Lester; ahrenlester@alliancenews.com
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