The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) has appointed Chris George, Head of Trade Marketing Europe West at Electrolux Major Appliances, as its new Chair, succeeding Teresa Arbuckle after eight years in the role.
Arbuckle, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Beko PLC, will step down from the position but remain on the AMDEA Board, providing continuity and strategic insight to the organisation.
Mr George, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the appliance and technology sectors, has been a member of the AMDEA Board since December 2023 and takes up the role with immediate effect.
AMDEA Chief Executive, Stefan Hay, (left) and Chris George, new Chair at AMDEA (Right).
During her tenure, which began in 2018, Ms Arbuckle led the trade association through a period of significant transformation and growth. Early in her leadership she strengthened AMDEA’s executive structure with the appointment of Paul Hide as Chief Executive and later helped guide the organisation through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her time as Chair also saw sustainability move to the forefront of AMDEA’s agenda, with the organisation championing the circular economy through initiatives focused on repair, reuse and recycling. Since 2021, sustainability has been a central theme of the association’s annual conferences.
Under Ms Arbuckle’s leadership, AMDEA’s expanded its public-facing work, launching the award-winning Know Watt’s What campaign in 2023 to raise awareness of the energy and cost-saving benefits of modern appliances. She also continued to promote the annual Register My Appliance initiative, encouraging households to register appliances to improve product safety.
In 2025, Ms Arbuckle oversaw the appointment of AMDEA’s current Chief Executive, Stefan Hay, helping ensure a smooth leadership transition. Earlier this year she also supported the introduction of a new Associate Membership category aimed at strengthening the association’s reach and influence.
Commenting on her time as Chair, Ms 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.”
Mr Hay paid tribute to Ms Arbuckle’s contribution, saying her leadership had left “a lasting mark on the organisation”.
“It has been a real privilege to work with Teresa over the past few months,” he said. “Her commitment to AMDEA, her unwavering support for the team, and her dynamic, principled leadership have helped shape 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.”
Mr George said he was looking forward to continuing the association’s work representing the UK appliance industry.
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chair at AMDEA,” he said. “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 continue our collaboration with government and stakeholders to support innovation, drive high standards and help the industry navigate the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
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