Thierry Garnier, who has spent seven years as Kingfisher’s chief executive, will leave the home improvement retailer to take on the role of president and chief executive at Ahold Delhaize, according to announcements by the companies.

Kingfisher, which owns several brands including B&Q said he will remain in his current role for the foreseeable future to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of his responsibilities.

Garnier is expected to join European supermarket conglomerate Ahold Delhaize after the company’s annual general meeting in April 2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

Ahold Delhaize said he will replace its current chief executive, Frans Muller, who will retire from the company. He spent 13 years working at the company and eight years serving as chief executive. The retailer said that Muller was instrumental in defining Ahold Delhaize following its creation by merger in 2016.

Prior to joining Kingfisher, Garnier spend more than two decades at French retailer Carrefour, where he held senior roles including chief executive of Carrefour international, chief executive of Carrefour Asia and a member of the company’s executive board.

Kingfisher said the search for his successor is underway, following the board’s well-prepared succession plan, which will include a comprehensive review of both internal and external candidates.

Wiebe Draijer, chair of the Supervisory Board of Ahold Delhaize, said: “We are pleased to nominate Thierry as our proposed next President and CEO. He is a seasoned leader with a strong track record in retail, digital transformation, deep international experience, and a clear focus on customers, associates and the future of grocery retail.

“Thierry’s approach to finding the right balance between leveraging group capabilities and staying close to local markets aligns well with Ahold Delhaize’s identity as a family of great local brands.”

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