After a decade of dedicated leadership, Jonathan Hindle is stepping down as Chairman of the British Furniture Confederation (BFC). Succeeding him is Tony Attard OBE DL, founder and chairman of the Panaz Group, who brings decades of industry expertise and public service to the role.
© British Furniture Confederation
Established in 2006 by the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers (WCFM) to serve as the industry's voice to government, the BFC has consistently been chaired by Past Masters of the WCFM. Tony, who served as Master in 2022–23, also held the position of President of the Furnishing Industry Benevolent Association (FIBA) prior to its merger with the Furniture Makers' Company in 2012.
A pioneer in textile innovation, Tony founded Panaz in 1985, a Burnley-based manufacturer of flame-retardant fabrics for the global hospitality, healthcare, leisure, cruise, and corporate sectors. Today, Panaz exports to over 60 countries, with subsidiaries in Europe and the USA and a strong global distribution network.
Tony's career includes extensive contributions to academia and industry. He sits on the Manchester University Department of Material Science Industrial Advisory Group, is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, an Associate of the Institute of Textiles, and a Fellow of the University of Lancashire. His achievements have been recognised with numerous accolades, including an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Manchester University, honours from the Design Council and the Department for International Trade (DIT), an OBE in the 2010 New Year Honours, and his appointment as Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire in 2016. He also served as High Sheriff of Lancashire from 2018–2019.
Reflecting on his tenure, outgoing Chair Jonathan Hindle said:
"It has been a great pleasure and very rewarding to chair the BFC. The Confederation is a unified and determined team with a common purpose. Together, we've worked hard to raise the profile of a sector that contributes around £40 billion to the UK economy and provides employment for 250,000 people. I wish Tony huge success as he takes over the challenge."
Commenting on his appointment, Tony Attard said:
"I am honoured to be taking on the role of Chairman of the BFC from Jonathan, who has done such a great job championing our industry in government circles over the past decade. There is much to do as we face significant business challenges both at home and abroad. If business is to survive and thrive, we need government to listen and respond to our concerns. I plan to add the weight of our £40 billion industry to that of other prominent industrial groups to promote a pro-business economy that drives prosperity for our sector."
The BFC was established by the Furniture Makers' Company, the furnishing industry's charity and patron. Its members include the British Furniture Association (BFA), National Bed Federation (NBF), Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA), and the UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance (UKSFA), with affiliations to the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) and Anti-Copying In Design (ACID).
More information:
British Furniture Confederation
www.britishfurnitureconfederation.org.uk
