Whirlpool, the company behind the Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit brands, has announced the appointment of James Goldsmith as its new managing director for the UK and Ireland.
Goldsmith takes over from former managing director Lena Henry who spent just 12 months in the role.
Goldsmith has worked at Whirlpool for 25 years in a variety of positions and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, not only of the company and its brands but also the wider appliance industry, to the role of MD.
Speaking of his appointment, Goldsmith said: “I’m extremely proud to return to the UK and embark on a new challenge with the company. I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience that I have acquired throughout my career to build upon and further strengthen our retail relationships, drive our brands and services forward and nurture even more collaborative and engaged teamwork moving forward together.”
Earlier this year Whirlpool announced it was partnering with Arçelik to launch a new standalone European home appliance business. The deal is not expected to close until the second half of 2023 but, the new company, which is yet to be named, will have exclusive manufacturing and distribution of the majority of Whirlpool and Arçelik’s leading brands including Hotpoint, Indesit, Beko and Whirlpool (under licence). Arçelik will own 75% of the new entity while Whirlpool will own 25%.
In February it reported a double-digit drop in global sales in 2022 compared with 2021 with profits also taking a pounding.