AMDEA’s members, colleagues in government, valued stakeholders and partners enjoyed an informal evening drinks reception in the beautiful surroundings of Stirling Gardens, at Prince Philip House in London.

This year’s AMDEA (The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances) Summer Reception (July 9) was a great opportunity for around 90 guests to catch up with colleagues, make new connections, and renew friendships and acquaintances across the wider appliance industry.

The event also served as a farewell party for AMDEA CEO, Paul Hide, who is retiring after five and a half years heading up the trade association – he leaves at the end of July, and will be replaced by Stefan Hay, who joins AMDEA from the NTDA (National Tyre Distributors Association), where he spent more than a decade at the helm.

At the Summer Reception, AMDEA Chair and Beko Europe’s regional MD for the UK and Ireland, Teresa Arbuckle, gave a speech thanking Mr Hide for his contribution to AMDEA and highlighted how he had revitalised the organisation.

“We needed AMDEA to change its direction, to be more proactive, to have a sustainability agenda and to have the right representation with government, stakeholders and consumers,” said Ms Arbuckle, explaining how Mr Hide had achieved all this and more while working at the trade association.

She added that he had also brought in new systems and a dynamic new team at AMDEA, and introduced a new way of thinking about the white goods industry and how AMDEA champions the things that matter most in the appliance sector.

“Paul also initiated some amazing consumer campaigns – he made Register My Appliance really sing and with the Know Watt’s What campaign, which won an industry award, AMDEA told consumers about the benefits of appliances and how to use them more efficiently,” said Ms Arbuckle.

She added: “Beyond all that, Paul is a really great guy – he has put his heart and soul into everything he has done for our organisation.”

Commenting on his time at AMDEA, Mr Hide, who has spent 35 years working in the consumer tech sector, said: “I joined AMDEA just before Christmas 2019 – I’ve been there for five and a half years, and it’s been a great ride. In that time, we’ve had one global pandemic, two monarchs and four prime ministers, and apparently, we ‘got Brexit done’, although who or what was done remains a mystery to me and probably always will do.”

He added: “I want to say a big thanks to the AMDEA Board, who have given us the mandate to do what we’ve done, and to Teresa, who has given my team and I great support and guidance. We also can’t do what we do without the help of our stakeholders – both in and out of government. Part of our success is down to our collaborative work, which will continue.

“I’d also like to say thanks to the AMDEA team, who are professional and very knowledgeable. It’s now time for me to move on, but I leave AMDEA in good hands,” said Mr Hide.

He also used the Summer Reception as an opportunity to introduce his replacement, Stefan Hay, who takes over the role of AMDEA CEO later this month.

In a welcome speech, Mr Hay said: “I have big shoes to fill – Paul has achieved amazing things over the past five and a half years, and I’m looking forward to working with a very competent and very successful team.

“It’s about evolution, not revolution, but I’ve got a lot to do – just looking at the list of legislation that we have to cover, understand and interpret on a daily basis, and advise our members on, is quite a daunting task, but I look forward to working with all of you over the next few years. It’s an exciting time.”