Steve Scogings – CIH Chairman
IER were again very fortunate and privileged to be invited and ultimately attend the annual CIH Suppliers’ Lunch, held in Mayfair at Claridge’s on Wednesday 3rd December, and witness CIH Chairman, Steve Scogings, round up the year. His speech, as detailed below, was of sincere gratitude and recognition of many prior to the presentation of well deserving Awards.
Steve’s Speech of Gratitude
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the CIH Suppliers’ Lunch. It is excellent to see so many of you here as we come together to reflect on the past year and celebrate the strong partnerships that support our members and our organisation.
I would like to begin by extending our sincere thanks to Claridge’s for once again hosting us with exceptional professionalism and first-class service. Their continued attention to detail and the consistently high standard of hospitality they provide help make this event a fantastic start to the festive season.
Harry Kyriacou – CEO at CIH
This year marks an important moment for CIH/Euronics as we welcome our new CEO, Harry Kyriacou. Harry has already brought a new dynamic energy to the role, and his leadership is having a positive impact across the business. Following the launch of our Six Strategic Pillars at our recent overseas conference, it has been encouraging to see how quickly these foundations have started to influence positive and measurable change within the organisation. Under Harry’s guidance, we have seen stronger alignment, renewed focus, and a closer working relationship across all areas of the group. We are confident this direction will play a crucial role in strengthening our position and supporting our members in the years ahead.
As has become tradition, several of us are once again wearing festive shirts today to support the various charities close to our members’ hearts. This initiative continues to be a meaningful part of our annual fundraising efforts, and we remain grateful to everyone who participates and contributes throughout the year.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the CIH Board for their ongoing dedication and support. Their commitment to representing and safeguarding the interests of our members remains central to the success of the group.
On a personal note, I want to express my sincere thanks to the Board for the continued trust they place in me. I am fully aware that I could not carry out this role without their backing, guidance, and agreement for me to continue as Chairperson. I am genuinely grateful for their confidence and for the collaborative way in which we work together on behalf of our members.
This year, we also saw two long-standing directors, Fiona Lunt and Phil Mosey, retire from their roles. On behalf of the board, the membership, and the wider CIH family, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for their many years of service, their hard work, and their invaluable contributions to the organisation. We wish them both the very best for the future.
My thanks also go to the entire CIH management team and staff. Their work throughout the year — often behind the scenes — ensures our members receive the support, services, and representation they rely upon. Their commitment is appreciated by both the board and our members.
Our logistics partners, Ken White and DX, have once again delivered outstanding service to our members, ensuring they receive the products they need in an efficient and reliable manner. Their investment in service improvements further strengthens the value we offer to the membership.
We are also pleased to have our colleagues from Euronics International with us today. Their ongoing support, leadership, and focus on strengthening independent electrical retailers across Europe remain vitally important to CIH and to our members.
I am delighted to welcome John Olsen, Managing Director of Euronics International, and Francesco Secchi, EMEA Members & Business Development. We greatly appreciate their ongoing support and the valuable work they do for the wider group.
Looking Ahead: Our Future and Our Ambition
As we look to the future, it is important that we recognise the scale of the opportunity ahead of us.
The independent electrical retail sector is evolving rapidly, and our competitive landscape continues to grow. We are operating alongside some of the most recognised names in retail — Currys, AO, John Lewis, Argos, Amazon — and we are now seeing Costco becoming increasingly visible in our sector, as well as newcomers such as Joy Buy entering the UK market.
Despite this increasingly crowded field, the independent channel continues to demonstrate its strength. Local knowledge, trusted relationships, personal service, and community presence give our members an edge that cannot be replicated by scale alone.
But to maximise that strength, we must continue to grow — in numbers, in capability, and in influence.
Our ambition is clear:
We want CIH not only to represent the independent sector, but to lead it into a position where we are firmly competing at the top table of this industry.
To achieve this, we will:
- Grow our membership by making CIH an even more compelling home for independent retailers.
- Increase our turnover and drive greater commercial opportunity.
- Strengthen our offering so members and suppliers experience CIH as the best partner to work with
- Use our scale and market share to give the independent sector a stronger voice.
- Operate as one united buying group that stands for quality, fairness, and partnership across the industry.
As we expand, the importance of having one strong buying group for the independent sector becomes even clearer. A group with shared purpose, shared direction, and shared benefit. A group that speaks with one voice — and is listened to at every level of our industry.
CIH has the foundation, the membership, the leadership, and the momentum to be that group.
And with your continued support, I am confident we will achieve precisely that.
Presentation to Jane Perrett
Before we move on to the awards, I would like to pause and recognise someone whose contribution to CIH is quietly significant and very much appreciated by all of us.
Each year, this event – along with many others throughout the calendar – runs smoothly thanks to the steady work, organisation, and coordination happening behind the scenes. A great deal of that falls to Jane Perrett, who helps keep the board, the management team, and the wider organisation aligned and supported throughout the year.
At this point, could I please ask Andrew Thomas, our Deputy Chairperson, to present a small token of our appreciation to Jane on behalf of the board and myself, as a thank you for everything she does for us throughout the year.
Awards Ceremony
Each year, this lunch allows us to recognise the suppliers whose commitment, partnership, and performance have stood out over the past twelve months. To assist with presenting the awards, I would like to invite Harry to join me on stage.
Brown Goods Supplier of the Year
This supplier has shown outstanding engagement with our members and offers a competitive and compelling product range that has resonated strongly across the group. Their collaboration and investment make them a valuable partner.
The Brown Goods Supplier of the Year Award 2025 goes to TCL.
White Goods Supplier of the Year
This year’s winner delivered strong year-on-year growth in a challenging market. Despite undergoing significant restructuring following their merger, the team remained proactive, supportive, and fully engaged with our members. Their commitment and performance have been exemplary.
The White Goods Supplier of the Year 2025 is Beko.
Supporter of the Independents
This award recognises a supplier who has demonstrated exceptional support for the independent retail channel. Our winner has taken meaningful steps to improve their offering to members, including enhancements to their range, improved agency direct structures, and better commercial terms, including selected model commission increases and an improved framework.
The Supporter of the Independents Award 2025 goes to Samsung DA.
Members’ Choice Supplier of the Year
Voted for directly by our members, this award reflects the importance of strong relationships, reliable support, and consistent engagement on the ground. This year’s winner has demonstrated all these qualities, maintaining excellent contact with members and providing strong field sales support throughout the year.
The Members’ Choice Supplier of the Year Award 2025 goes to Bosch.
Acknowledgement of Departing Supplier Colleagues
Before we move on, I would like to take a moment to recognise three individuals from within our supplier community who are leaving, or have recently left, their organisations.
Glenn Houston of Samsung Electronics,
Gunjan Srivastava of BSH Home Appliances,
and Mr Kevin Wackett, who retired in March this year from his role with the Beko Group.
Each of them has been a staunch supporter of CIH and of the independent electrical sector. Throughout their time working with us, they have consistently demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to constructive partnership.
Their positive influence and the way they have approached their roles have helped strengthen the relationships we enjoy with their organisations, and we are sincerely grateful for their support over the years.
We are particularly pleased that Kevin could join us today — we understand he is currently between holidays, so we are lucky to have caught him.
As a small gesture of appreciation, we would like to present each of them with a gift.
Could I ask Glenn, Gunjan, and Kevin to join me and Harry on stage, please.
Thank you all sincerely for your contribution to the industry, and we wish each of you every success in your future endeavours.
Closing Remarks
As we draw today’s event to a close, I want to take a moment to personally thank each of you for your steadfast partnership, commitment, and support. This past year has not been without its challenges, but it has also been a year of meaningful progress and genuine opportunity. None of that would have been possible without the strong relationships we share across this room.
I am profoundly grateful for the trust you place in CIH, for the open conversations we have throughout the year, and for the willingness from so many of you to work alongside us to support our members and strengthen the independent sector. It is a responsibility I take seriously, and one I am proud to carry on behalf of our membership.
I want to thank you not only for the work we do together professionally, but also for the respect, collaboration, and understanding that underpin those relationships. It makes a real difference, and it is something I value personally.
As we look ahead, I am confident that — together — we can continue to build on the foundations we have set this year and deliver even more for our members, our customers, and our industry.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a well-deserved break with your families and friends, and a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.
I look forward to working with you all again in the year ahead.
Thank you.
