The European DIY Retail Association (EDRA) has appointed Erwin Van Osta, Owner and CEO of Hubo, as its President.
EDRA said Van Osta is a long-standing leader in the DIY, home improvement and garden sector. In addition to being Owner and CEO of Hubo, he also serves as President of Bricoalliance, an alliance of independent European DIY retail chains. Bricoalliance operates as a knowledge and purchasing platform, providing its partners with market insights and strategic sourcing, and is supported by its own sourcing office in Shanghai.
Van Osta succeeds Thierry Garnier, Group CEO of Kingfisher, who has concluded his three-year term as President and will remain on the EDRA Board.
“It is an honour to be elected President, and I want to thank the Board for their trust in me,” said Van Osta. “During Thierry’s term, we demonstrated the power of our global network.”
Garnier added: “It has been a privilege to chair EDRA/GHIN, and I am delighted to hand over the presidency to Erwin as the network continues to grow and positively impact the DIY sector. The Make It Zero initiative has shown what we can achieve when we come together as an industry—retailers and suppliers alike—and work towards a common goal.”
EDRA/GHIN is formed of two symbiotic associations, the European DIY Retail Association (EDRA) and the Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN).
In addition to the presidential appointment, EDRA has added three new representatives to its Board: David Wood, CEO of Wickes (UK); Joost de Beijer, CEO of Intergamma (Benelux); and Sabrina Canese, President of Assofermet (Italy). Meanwhile, Carl Otto Løvenskiold, a member of the EDRA Board since its foundation in 2004, has retired.
Following these changes, the EDRA Board now comprises 13 members.
“EDRA/GHIN has become one of the most representative voices of the DIY and home improvement industry worldwide, as reflected in the expansion of the Board,” said Van Osta. “EDRA/GHIN is where the global home improvement industry aligns—sharing intelligence, shaping standards and accelerating transformation. With 233 members worldwide, EDRA/GHIN has the scale to turn collaboration into impact.”
