John Coombe, the group's current senior independent director will succeed Mr Stocken as chairman of the group with effect from the company's AGM in July.

Mike Cook has been appointed as Gardman's new garden landscaping category manager, leaving his post as garden sundries buyer for the Garden and Leisure Group.

Graham Heald will join Homebase on April 16 as the DIY store's director of retail and distribution after having been director of retail services and chairman of Waitrose for Guernsey and Jersey.

Gardman has appointed Ann Guest, former national sales manager at Haith's, a bird food mail order specialist.

Crown Paints has announced the promotion of group commercial director Joe Devitt to the role of managing director, with former chief executive Brian Davidson set to assume the role of chairman.