Kingfisher boss eyes Sainsburys job

SIR Francis Mackay, chairman of DIY retail group Kingfisher, has signalled that he is ready to quit.

Mackay, 59, took the helm at Kingfisher in December 2001 and presided over breaking up the group into separate electrical and DIY operations. He then hastened the exit of veteran chief executive Sir Geoff Mulcahy when Gerry Murphy was recruited from TV company Carlton to take over daytoday running of the company.

Mackay has told friends that his job at Kingfisher is done and he is looking to move on.

City sources say he was approached about moving to Sainsbury. The flagging supermarket is seeking a City heavyweight to become deputy chairman this spring with a view to taking the chair by the middle of next year.

Sir Peter Davis, chief executive at Sainsbury, is to be replaced by Justin King from Marks & Spencer at the end of March. Davis will become chairman and by that time Sainsbury wants to have appointed a new deputy chairman who will move into the chair when Davis retires, which is scheduled for June next year.

It is understood that while Mackay was interested in the Sainsbury vacancy, no deal could be struck.

Sainsbury is thought to be close to filling the deputy chairmanship - effectively naming Davis's successor.