Eddie Chu, the commercial director at historic kitchen manufacturer Stoneham Kitchens, has announced he will retire at the end of this month after almost 25 years with the company.
Chu began his career at the age of just 18, when he worked as a buyer and product developer for a company making kitchen and bedroom furniture.
Although he had turned down roles at other well-known homeware brands, Chu joined Stoneham Kitchens in 2001, and since that time, is said to have played an integral role in its growth and development.
Prior to his promotion to commercial director, Chu’s early responsibilities were focused primarily on purchasing and sourcing new materials for product design. Across his long career at the company, Stoneham says he has overseen procurement, driven product development, led training programmes and worked closely with customers.
With Chu now vacating the role at the end of this month, the company has announced that sales officer manager Adrian Field as his successor.
Looking back on his time at Stoneham, Eddie Chu commented: “It has been a fantastic 24 years. Every day has brought something new and challenging, which has made the role stimulating and rewarding. I will truly miss my colleagues and our long-standing suppliers.”
Similarly, managing director Adrian Stoneham called Chu a fantastic ambassador for the company. He continued: “His depth of technical knowledge and ‘can do’ attitude have had a most positive effect on our business and customers for many years. Having worked very closely with him, I consider him a most valued colleague and friend. His energy, cheery nature, and engaging personality are recognised by everyone who meets him. And, of course, his unique take on the English phonetic alphabet has often been a great source of entertainment!”
He added: “From all at Stoneham, we thank Eddie for his outstanding contribution and wish him a wonderful retirement filled with happiness and new adventures.”
In other news, Stoneham Kitchens also celebrated its impressive 160th anniversary last year. Despite the company’s long history, MD Adrian Stoneham recently spoke to kbbreview about how his strategy is still very much focused on the future.