Archie Norman, who was also a Member of Parliament between 1997 and 2005, has been credited with turning the supermarket around to become one of the biggest chains in the UK before its sale to Wal-Mart.
In the 1980s he was part of a three-strong team who established and built Kingfisher, then responsible for retail stores Woolworths, B&Q, Superdrug, Comet and MVC.
In three years Mr Norman also acquired Energis and refocused and rebuilt the business before selling the company to Cable and Wireless for double the original price.
Mr Norman became an MP in 1997 and served as a leading member of the Shadow Cabinet for the Conservative Party between 1999 and 2001.
He stepped down last year.
