Aug 12 (Reuters) - Home Depot said on Wednesday CEO

Ted Decker will take a temporary medical leave of absence and is

expected to return within the next few months.

Finance chief Richard McPhail and senior executive vice

president Ann-Marie Campbell will oversee CEO operations during

Decker's absence, the home improvement chain said in a

statement.

The interim appointments were made in alignment with

Decker's recommendation, the company added.

Home Depot did not immediately respond to a Reuters request

for comment on further details about Decker's leave of absence.

The company reports quarterly results on August 18.

Home improvement chains such as Home Depot and Lowe's

have been investing in growing their professional

business catering to contractors and builders as inflation

pressures force consumers to defer smaller projects.

Decker, aged 63, took over as Home Depot's CEO in March

2022. He joined the company in 2000, and has also held senior

roles in merchandising and retail finance.

Campbell, aged 61, joined Home Depot in 1985, and has held

several senior roles across its U.S. business. McPhail, aged 56,

has been with Home Depot since 2005, and has been its CFO since

September 2019.

(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru; Additional

reporting by Angela Christy M; Editing by Devika Syamnath)