Bunnings UK and Ireland has appointed David Haydon as its new trading and commercial manager for the Homebase business.

Haydon, whose responsibility is in running the Homebase business, will join the company in late June and will report to managing director PJ Davis.

His experience includes senior roles at both B&Q (director of trading and director of commercial strategy) and Wickes. Haydon will also sit on the company’s steering committee.

Haydon, who has over 25 years experience working with retailers in the UK and Australia, has worked for Officeworks, part of the Wesfarmers Group, for over four years as a member of its leadership team.

Before he joined Officeworks, Haydon was commercial and marketing director for Kingfisher Plc’s international businesses, overseeing commercial and marketing strategies for high-growth markets including China, Poland, Russia and Turkey.

“I’m looking forward to joining the team at this exciting time,” Haydon said. “Working together to create something special in what is the dynamic UK home improvement market will be both a challenge and a great deal of fun.”

Davis said following the opening of two Bunnings Warehouse pilot stores in St Albans, the company will open stores in Hemel Hempstead and Milton Keynes over the next couple of months, and one in Folkestone in July.

“Feedback from customers and the community has been very positive, and now we are focused on developing the program which will see at least 10 stores open by the end of the year,” he said.

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