The DIY giant, which owns B&Q and Screwfix in the UK, said it had appointed Garnier as a result of his experience in leading “significant businesses through complex change programmes while operating in competitive and rapidly changing retail environments”.

His start date is still to be to finalised.

Garnier’s new role will be his first in retail outside of Carrefour. He has spent 22 years with the French grocery operator, having joined as hypermarket director in 1997.

In 2003, he became managing director of supermarkets in its domestic French market and five years later was promoted to international executive director.

Garnier was named executive director of China and Taiwan in 2012. Since October 2017, he has served as executive director for Asia and chief executive of Carrefour China.