Mulcahy set to leave Kingfisher this week

Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, the chief executive of Kingfisher, is set to leave the retailer this week after Gerry Murphy is confirmed as his successor, even though Mr Murphy is unlikely to take up the post until next year.

Industry sources last night said that Mr Murphy, who is currently the chief executive of the ITV company Carlton Communications, will join Kingfisher in January 2003.

Until then, Kingfisher's chairman Francis Mackay will also take on the chief executive's responsibilities.

Kingfisher, which owns the do-it-yourself chain B&Q and the electrical stores group Comet, announced in May it was searching for a successor to Sir Geoffrey, who has been with retailer for more than 20 years.

The changeover comes as Kingfisher takes full control of its part-owned French home improvements chain Castorama. Until now, Sir Geoffrey has been handling the integration, and he had been expected to stay on at Kingfisher to oversee the hand-over.

The group is planning to float its electricals business in France next year, which will leave the one-time owner of Woolworths focused purely on do-it-yourself.

Mr Murphy has previously worked with Mr Mackay at Grand Metropolitan. He is believed to have wanted to stay on at Carlton for a while to help prepare for a planned merger with its ITV rival Granada. A Kingfisher spokesman declined comment on the expected boardroom changes last night.