Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement company, has announced the appointment of Bhavesh Mistry as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective as Bernard Bot, the current CFO, prepares to retire. Bot will continue in his role until at least January 2025 to facilitate a smooth transition.
Bhavesh Mistry brings extensive finance and retail experience to Kingfisher, having served as CFO of British Land since 2021 and previously as Deputy CFO at Tesco from 2018 to 2021. His career spans senior finance roles at Whitbread, Virgin Media, and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Mistry’s strategic acumen and leadership qualities are expected to complement Kingfisher’s growth strategy and operational initiatives.
Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, expressed confidence in Mistry’s appointment, highlighting his strategic mindset and strong track record in delivering results. Garnier acknowledged Bernard Bot’s significant contributions to Kingfisher’s transformation under the Powered by Kingfisher strategy and through the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Bhavesh Mistry expressed enthusiasm about joining Kingfisher during a dynamic phase of growth and transformation. He emphasized his commitment to leveraging Kingfisher’s strategic strengths and capitalizing on growth opportunities across its international markets.
Bernard Bot, reflecting on his tenure as CFO, expressed pride in Kingfisher’s progress and thanked the leadership team and colleagues for their collaboration and support. He affirmed his dedication to ensuring a seamless transition to Mistry in the coming months.
Bhavesh Mistry will join Kingfisher’s Board and become a member of the Group Executive team, based at the company’s head office in Paddington, London. Kingfisher operates over 2,000 stores across Europe, including prominent retail brands such as B&Q and Screwfix, catering to both consumers and trade professionals in the home improvement sector.