We are pleased to announce the appointment of Chris George, Head of Trade Marketing Europe West at Electrolux Major Appliances, as its new Chair. He succeeds Teresa Arbuckle, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Beko PLC, who steps down from the role after eight years of distinguished leadership. AMDEA is delighted that Ms Arbuckle will continue to serve as a member of the Board, ensuring valuable continuity and ongoing strategic insight.
Since becoming Chair in 2018 Teresa has led AMDEA through a period of significant transformation and growth. She strengthened the organisation’s leadership early on with the appointment of Paul Hide as Chief Executive and went on to guide AMDEA through major challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving the Association on a robust financial footing with a skilled and effective team in place. Increasing the importance of sustainability – and promoting the circular economy through repair, reuse and recycle – has been a hallmark of her leadership, with annual Amdea conferences focusing on this critical topic since 2021. Under her leadership, AMDEA also expanded its public-facing role, launching the award-winning Know Watt’s What campaign in 2023 to highlight the cost and energy-saving benefits of modern appliances to end consumers. Throughout her eight year tenure, Teresa also continued to drive ‘Register My Appliance’, the annual initiative which encourages households to register their appliances to improve product safety.
In 2025, Teresa oversaw the appointment of AMDEA’s current Chief Executive, Stefan Hay, ensuring a smooth leadership transition, and in January 2026 supported the introduction of a new Associate Membership category, further strengthening the Association’s reach and influence.
Teresa Arbuckle said: “I am very proud of where AMDEA leads today, delivering impactful sustainability and safety campaigns for consumers, and working with key stakeholders and government officials on critical topics concerning us all. I’m pleased to remain as an AMDEA Board member to ensure that AMDEA continues to move forward in a positive direction in order to benefit millions of UK households”.
In paying tribute to Teresa, Stefan Hay said: “It has been a real privilege to work with Teresa over the past few months. Her commitment to AMDEA, her unwavering support for the team, and her dynamic, principled leadership have left a lasting mark on the organisation. Teresa’s contribution to AMDEA and to the wider UK appliance industry cannot be overstated; she has played a pivotal role in shaping a strong, respected and influential association. I inherit an organisation in robust health, built on the foundations laid by Teresa and Paul, and I am proud to continue building on their legacy together with our new Chair Chris George.”
AMDEA’s new Chair of the Board, Chris George, will take up the role from today. Chris has worked in the appliance industry and associated technology industries for over 20 years and has been an active member of the AMDEA Board since December 2023.
Speaking about his appointment and his aspirations for AMDEA’s future Chris George said:
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chair at AMDEA. Having worked across this industry for more than a decade, I’ve seen first-hand how important AMDEA has been in defining standards, regulations and championing crucial issues like sustainability. With Stefan now driving the business forward and expanding our remit and membership, my priority as Chair will be to continue Teresa’s great work and ensure AMDEA remains a strong, credible voice for our members. I intend to help us to continue our excellent collaboration with government and stakeholders to support innovation, drive high standards, and help the industry navigate the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”