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Kingfisher has named Sebastian Gundel, formerly CEO of German home-improvement retailer OBI, as its next chief executive. The appointment is scheduled to take effect on 1 February 2027; until then, Gundel is CEO-designate, not Kingfisher’s serving CEO. Kingfisher’s October 2026 biography confirms the appointment but does not give its exact announcement day. Kingfisher
Who is Sebastian Gundel?
Gundel is a home-improvement retail executive whose career at OBI spanned corporate development, marketing and customer leadership, country management, and digital strategy. Kingfisher says he has more than two decades of leadership experience in the sector. His most recent role before the Kingfisher appointment was CEO of OBI.
Kingfisher’s October 2026 biography describes OBI as operating more than 660 stores and employing 40,000 colleagues across ten countries. Those are figures published by Kingfisher in that biography, rather than independently verified measures in the sources reviewed. Kingfisher’s CEO-designate biography
What did Gundel do at OBI?
From corporate development to customer and digital leadership
Gundel joined OBI in 2012 as Head of Corporate Development. He later held marketing and customer leadership roles and became Country Manager for Austria in 2017. In 2020, he took on the role of Chief Customer & Digital Officer. Kingfisher credits him with leading OBI’s digital growth strategy and launching the heyOBI ecosystem, which it said had more than 10 million registered users in its October 2026 biography. That user count is Kingfisher’s published figure.
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Appointment as OBI CEO
OBI’s announcement dated 30 September 2022 says Gundel became CEO effective 23 September 2022, succeeding Sergio Giroldi, who retired after nearly 20 years leading the company. OBI described Gundel’s previous responsibilities as Chief Customer and Digital Officer and Country Manager for Austria, including oversight of the heyOBI platform and OBI Next transformation unit. OBI also said he had grown market share and operating profit in Austria over a four-year period; the announcement did not provide financial figures. OBI’s 2022 CEO appointment announcement
OBI’s 2022 announcement cited 670 stores across Europe. That historical figure and Kingfisher’s later description of more than 660 stores come from different company statements and dates, so they should not be treated as a single current count.
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When does Gundel become Kingfisher CEO?
Kingfisher gives 1 February 2027 as the effective date. The appointment was announced in October 2026, according to the company biography, but that source does not identify the exact announcement day. The effective date is therefore the date to use when describing when Gundel is due to take the role.
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Why is Kingfisher changing CEOs?
On 6 May 2026, Kingfisher said Thierry Garnier had resigned after nearly seven years as CEO to take a senior leadership role outside Kingfisher’s markets. The company said its Nomination Committee would lead a search considering internal and external candidates. Garnier had a 12-month notice period and was expected to remain in role to support an orderly transition, with his exact departure date to be announced later. Kingfisher’s May 2026 announcement
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The reviewed announcements do not establish Garnier’s final day or provide a detailed handover timetable. Gundel’s 1 February 2027 start date should not be used to infer when Garnier leaves.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the appointment says about Gundel’s experience
The documented career path combines operating responsibility in a national market with group-level customer and digital work. His Austrian country-management experience preceded his appointment to OBI’s CEO role; the digital and customer remit included the heyOBI platform and OBI Next. These roles provide context for his selection, but the available company announcements do not amount to an independent assessment of his performance or explain the board’s specific reasons for choosing him.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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