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One of the UK’s largest DIY businesses has appointed a new boss – and it’s someone close to home.

Kingfisher Plc, the DIY giant that owns B&Q, Screwfix and Trade Depot, has appointed Ian Cheshire as its chief executive officer.

Formerly the chief Executive of B&Q, he starts his new job with its parent company today.

This follows the announcement on November 1 2007 that Gerry Murphy was to stand down after five years in the job.

The new CEO’s job will include the task of reversing a sales decline at B&Q, currently the UK’s largest home improvements chain.

Since he took the reins at the company, he has instigated big changes there.

Kingfisher says that a third of B&Q’s large stores are now trading successfully in a modern format and more than 60 per cent of product ranges have been renewed.

It says Mr Cheshire “will continue to work closely with the B&Q management team to ensure the momentum behind its renewal programme continues.”

The company has now started a search for a new managing director for that company.

Screwfix has been in touch to let us know that it’s got a limited number of clearance bargains available, which means great prices on power tools, hand tools, consumables, lighting and electrical products.

Here’s where to find them. Best way to find your way about is the left-hand navigation:

Screwfix: all clearance bargains >>

There are some decent special offers on tools and hardware around the B&Q site at the moment, if you’re prepared to spend a little bit of time hunting them down.

Guess what? We’ve done the work so you don’t have to! Here are our top ten picks for hidden bargains this week:

• 33 per cent off a B&Q Complete Loft Access Kit – was £149.98, now £99.98.
• 33 per cent off a MacAllister Redeye Drill Press COD500LDP 500w – was £79.98, now £49.98.
• 25 per cent off a AEG Professional Heavy Duty Jigsaw STEP 90X/4935381125 – was £124.98, now £94.98.
• 25 per cent off a Bosch Router POF 1100 AE 240v – was £69.94, now £52.32.
• 25 per cent off a Bosch Cordless Drill/Driver PSR14.4VE-2 14.4v – was £79.98, now £59.83.
• 25 per cent off a Bosch Impact Drill PSB 65O RE – 650w – was £39.94, now £29.88.
• 20 per cent off a Velux Standard Centre Pivot Roof Window – pine finish – was £318.29, now £253.04. This is just one of many similar Velux window reductions, so you’re sure to find one that suits your project.
• 20 per cent off a Triton Router Stand RSB300 – was £99.98, now £79.48.
• 20 per cent off a Performance Power Cordless Hammer Drill Kit 18V – was £49.98, now £39.98.
• 15 per cent off a Stabila Heavy Duty Ribbed Box Section Spirit Level – was £32.98, now £27.98.

Check out this week’s hot deals and special offers on tools and electrical equipment at Screwfix:

• Dewalt Hammer Drill and Drill/Driver Twin Pack – web exclusive, was £174.99, now half price. Great-value drill and drive combo pack. Hammer drill features safety clutch, chisel facility and side handle. Supplied with 2 x 1.3Ah Ni-Cd Batteries and 1hr charger.
• Wylex 12-way consumer unit plus free Li-Ion screwdriver – £69.87. A free Sparky screwdriver plus bits when you buy this Wylex 12-Way insulated split load consumer unit. Clear visor for easy circuit identification. Flexible board configuration. 6kA Short circuit rating on MCBs.
• Forge Steel 53 Piece Tool Kit – was £79.98, now half-price. Save 50per cent on this 53-piece forge steel tool kit. Professional workshop and mechanical tools supplied in heavy-duty foldable storage bag.

Here’s a tricky little household job that you might be considering – replacing curtain tracks and poles. It’s important to get it right because, unless you do, those lovely new curtains are never going to hang properly. And that would be a bit of a shame.

So, how do you decide between tracks and poles, and how do you buy what’s best? Luckily, John Lewis provides all the guidance you’ll need before starting the job:

Read the guide to buying curtain poles here >>

Read the guide to buying curtain tracks here >>

You can also see what curtain-hanging products it has on offer here.