Kingfisher Chief Digital and Technology Officer JJ Van Oosten departs to focus on personal interests

JJ Van Oosten has stepped down from the role of Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Kingfisher, the retail group whose brand portfolio includes B&Q, Castorama, Screwfix, Brico Dépôt and Koçtaş.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “It is now time for me to pass the baton over to the wonderful team and to focus on my personal interests.”

“Over the last there years, together, we have doubled our e-commerce participation from 8% to 16% of group sales. We put stores at the centre of our fulfilment strategy. We also offered more choice and speed to our customers.”

He added: “We successfully launched marketplaces in the UK for B&Q, in Iberia for Brico Dépôt and have clear roll-out plans. In the UK, our Screwfix customers can get their products under 60 minutes using 'Sprint' on the app.”

“Above all, we have developed and attracted world class talent across e-commerce, digital marketing, data (science), product management and technology. We have clear plans. Thank you. I wish you all the very best.”

2022 RTIH Innovation Awards

Kingfisher emerged victorious at the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards in December, with B&Q picking up the Most Innovative UK Retailer gong.

Our 2022 winners were revealed at a sold out event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.

B&Q is at the forefront of cutting-edge 3D visualisation, planning, and design technology. In 2022, it announced the largest and most comprehensive roll-out of 3D home improvement design experiences in the market today.

The retailer didn’t just deploy an app or service. It designed and deployed an entire 3D strategy that aligns with changing consumer behaviour.

It lays claim to being the first retailer to move away from an incumbent software solution that the industry has been using since the 1980s to a single SaaS-based kitchen, bathroom and bedroom/storage design platform for consumers and stores alike.

The initiative also includes a 3D kitchen, bathroom, and storage planner with virtual reality capabilities in addition to a series of mobile 3D product configurators for other products.

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, said: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it is great to recognise standout examples through our awards.”

“Thanks to all those who entered the 2022 event. We received a record number of submissions and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.”

“Congratulations to our 2022 retail technology hall of fame entrants.”