As a former Argos marketing director, where he also helped build its online operations, Geddes would bring retail expertise. But he would bring experience from a wide range of consumer facing businesses, having previously worked at Procter & Gamble as well as in financial services retail. He also led the listing of Direct Line on the Stock Exchange and into the FTSE 100. Kingfisher disclosed in March that Laury, who has been with the business since 2003 and became chief executive in 2014, would stand down but did not give an exact date. Laury's One Kingfisher strategy was designed to transform the business but the group has been under pressure and profits fell last year. A Kingfisher spokesman declined to comment on the chief executive succession, other than to say that a search was ongoing.