Howden Joinery confirms new CEO's start date

Howden Joinery Group has confirmed that chief executive designate Andrew Livingston will join on 29 January, as founder and current CEO Matthew Ingle retires.

Ingle, who built the retailer up over 22 years, will step down before the end of the first half after handover period with Livingston, who was poached from larger rival Kingfisher's Screwfix chain.

He said: "Howdens has a number of significant long-term opportunities ahead and I look forward to working with Andrew in helping take Howdens onto the next successful phase in its development."

Livingston has been at Kingfisher since 2009, following stints as chief operating officer of Wyevale Garden Centres and as commercial director of kitchens and bathrooms at B&Q.

Screwfix has been the sole driving force at Kingfisher in recent years, last year growing sales 23% to £1.3bn, helped by the opening of 70 outlets in the UK and Germany.