Bunnings poaches B&Q retail director Damian McGloughlin for chief operating officer role

Bunnings, whose parent company Wesfarmers acquired Homebase in February 2016, has appointed McGloughlin as it presses ahead with plans to open its first tranche of Bunnings stores in the UK.

McGloughlin, who spent 32 years at B&Q after joining at the age of 16, has been placed on gardening leave until he starts his new role.

He will report directly into Bunnings UK and Ireland boss PJ Davis.

A B&Q spokeswoman confirmed McGloughlin’s exit and added: “We wish Damian all the best.”

Launching Bunnings in the UK

The first two Bunnings Warehouse stores were converted from former Homebase units in St Albans earlier this year and a third was opened in Hemel Hempstead last week. 

The fourth is poised to open in Milton Keynes before the end of this month. 

Bunnings’ fledgling UK business, which is in the process of selling off old Homebase ranges and switching to its “always low prices” proposition, made a pre-tax loss of £28m in the UK in its maiden half-year. 

Last month, the retailer appointed another former B&Q employee David Haydon as trading and commercial director at Homebase.