Swedish head of British expansion into Russia

Kingfisher is planning to open its first DIY stores in Russia within the next one to two years. The programme of expansion within the country will be directed by Swedish executive Peter Partma, 34, who is moving from Ikea to the UK DIY group in June as country manager. He was most recently responsible for the operation and development of Ikea Russia’s stores, and can look back on six years’ experience in the Russian retail scene. He will be working for Kingfisher from the Moscow office which was opened earlier this year.
The market entry in Russia is to be effected by means of the Castorama format, with which the group claims to be operating most successfully in Poland. The UK group considers that the prospects are good in Russia, not only because of the great backlog of demand in the housing sector but also because of Russians’ attachment to their dachas.