Directorate Change

Kingfisher PLC
25 January 2008

EMBARGOED UNTIL 0745 HOURS
Friday 25 January 2008

Kingfisher plc appoints Ian Cheshire as Group Chief Executive

Kingfisher today announces the appointment of Ian Cheshire as Group Chief
Executive with effect from 28 January 2008. This follows the announcement on 1
November 2007 that Gerry Murphy will stand down from the position after five
years as Group Chief Executive.

Commenting on the appointment, Peter Jackson, Kingfisher's Chairman, said: '
Following a rigorous review of candidates, internally and externally, I am
delighted to announce the appointment of Ian as our new chief executive. He has
extensive experience of international home improvement retailing and knowledge
of the Kingfisher businesses, both in the UK and internationally. This makes him
uniquely placed to lead the business and drive through the changes necessary to
improve returns and maximise the value available from the opportunities in our
business.'

Ian Cheshire said: 'I'm excited by the challenge of leading Kingfisher and
believe there is significant potential for a real step change in shareholder
value. To achieve this, we will move at pace, focusing on the customer,
tightening our control of costs and making sure that our cash and capital works
more productively. Every part of the Group must deliver value to our
shareholders. With the right team consistently focused on these clear priorities
I believe we can improve shareholder returns.'

Trading

Since the last trading update on 29 November 2007 Kingfisher has traded broadly
in line with its expectations. Kingfisher is scheduled to announce its fourth
quarter sales update, covering the 13 weeks to 2 February 2008, on 21 February.

Ian Cheshire

Ian, 48, has held a wide variety of roles in the UK and internationally since
joining Kingfisher in 1998. He is currently Chief Executive of B&Q UK,
Kingfisher's largest operating company. He started his Kingfisher career as
Group Strategy Director and subsequently joined the main Board in 2000 as Chief
Executive of Kingfisher's fledgling e-commerce division. In 2002, having
successfully developed the online business for B&Q, Comet and Woolworths, he
became CEO, International and Development, with responsibility for all of
Kingfisher's retail operations outside of the UK and France. Over the next three
years he restructured this division, doubled the number of stores in the
remaining key markets and grew profit from £5 million to over £80 million.

A fluent French speaker, Ian also played a key role in the integration of the
Castorama and Brico Depot businesses following their acquisition in 2002.

In 2005, with the UK home improvement in a sharp decline, he was appointed CEO
of B&Q UK with the remit to modernise the business. Since then, whilst the
market has remained weak, he has delivered significant change with a third of B&
Q's large stores now trading successfully in a modern format and over 60% of
product ranges renewed. Ian will continue to work closely with the B&Q
management team in the role of B&Q Chairman to ensure the momentum behind its
renewal programme continues. A search for a B&Q Managing Director will commence
immediately.

Ian has over 20 years retail experience having previously worked for Sears plc
as Group Commercial Director. Prior to that he worked at Guinness and the Piper
Trust. He is a graduate of Cambridge University where he studied economics and
law.

Ian Cheshire is married with three children. He is a non-executive director of
Bradford & Bingley plc. He is also a member of the Climate Change Leaders'
Group, an organisation of senior business and government figures established to
combat climate change.

Enquiries:

Kingfisher

Ian Harding, Group Communications Director                020 7644 1029
Nigel Cope, Head of Communications                        020 7644 1030
Sarah Gerrand, Head of Investor Relations                 020 7644 1032

The Maitland Consultancy

Angus Maitland/Philip Gawith                              020 7379 5151

Further copies of this announcement can be downloaded from www.kingfisher.com or
by application to: The Company Secretary, Kingfisher plc, 3 Sheldon Square,
London, W2 6PX.

Company Profile

Kingfisher plc is Europe's leading home improvement retail group and the third
largest in the world, with nearly 760 stores in 9 countries in Europe and Asia.
Its main retail brands are B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot and Screwfix.  Kingfisher
also has a 21% interest in, and strategic alliance with, Hornbach, Germany's
leading large format DIY retailer, with over 120 stores in Germany and eight
other European countries.






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