During its General Assembly held on 22 May in Madrid, the members elected a new Board, marking an important moment of continuity and renewal for the association.
Following two years as Vice-President, Stepan Stojanov, Secretary General of SCHKT (Czechia) was elected President.
After completing two mandates as President, Coen van de Sande (NVKL, Netherlands) stepped down from the presidency and will continue to serve on the Board as Past President, ensuring continuity and the transfer of experience.
The General Assembly also elected Thanos Biris (HUFGAS, Greece) as Vice-President and Espen Rønning (VKE, Norway) as Treasurer.
Marco Buoni (ATF, Italy) remains a member of the Board, continuing his work under a specific International Affairs mandate, while Seamus Kerr (IRI, Ireland) was re-elected as Board Member.
The Board also welcomed a new member, Karl-Heinz Thielmann (VDKF, Germany), while Grzegorz Michalski (KFCh, Poland) concluded his term and stepped down from the Board.
The association warmly thanks all outgoing and continuing Board members for their commitment and looks forward to working with the newly elected Board in the coming term.
Following his election, Stepan Stojanov stated:
“In recent years, AREA has successfully navigated the challenges of the review of the F-gas Regulation, emerging stronger and more united. Thanks to the outstanding dedication of our working groups, our association is today widely recognised as a trusted and influential voice for the sector.
Looking ahead, our priority is clear: to support contractors in adapting to this evolving regulatory landscape. This will require a strong focus on training for alternative refrigerants, ensuring compliance with safety standards in HVAC installation, safeguarding our market from illegal practices, and advancing digitalisation and cybersecurity.
These will define the key challenges—and opportunities—for our sector in the years to come.”
