Redfern took up the role at the builders’ merchant giant last September.

He previously spent more than 14 years as chief executive of house builder Taylor Wimpey before stepping down in 2022

Travis Perkins has started the hunt for a new CEO with chair Geoff Drabble taking interim charge of the business.

Drabble said: “The Board and I are very sorry that Pete’s brief but promising tenure as CEO has been brought to a premature conclusion for reasons beyond his and our control, and which none of us had anticipated.

“On a personal level, and on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Pete for his valuable contribution kickstarting the Group’s efforts to refocus on the customer experience and reenergise our field operations. He leaves with our best wishes for the future.

“The Group has many inherent strengths, benefiting from nationwide coverage with market leading businesses and strong customer and supplier relationships. We have a great business which has had its issues in recent times, but which I am confident can build on its inherent strengths and deliver value for investors and all of its other stakeholders.”