Former Kingfisher group md Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy to receive the European Home Improvement Lifetime Award.
Sir Geoffrey is the person first to receive the accolade from the European DIY-Retail Association (EDRA), the European Federation of DIY and Gardening Manufacturers (Fediyma) and the Conference Group.

The award will be presented during the Fediyma/EDRA Forum in Vienna on June 10-11.

Sir Geoffrey joined what is now Kingfisher in 1982, first as group finance director and then as group managing director. During his time with the company, Sir Geoffrey was instrumental in the reorganisation and expansion of the group and its subsequent major development in the UK and internationally. As a result he oversaw an increase in market capitalisation from £105m in 1982 to more than £5bn when he stepped down in November 2002.

Knigfisher has grown to be one of Europe's leading retail groups, with an annual turnover of £10.5bn across 830 outlets in eight countries.

Sir Geoffrey also served as chairman of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) for three years, stepping down from the role in May of last year. Speaking at the time of the announcement, BRC director general Stephen Robertson paid tribute to Sir Geoffrey. "The BRC has greatly gained from his vast retail knowledge during his three year Chairmanship. He has helped to build an outstanding organisation to serve the retail sector."