Jacqui Stefanov, former Tempur UK md responsible for establishing the brand in the UK died on 13 June. She was 58.
The bed brand says she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.
Stefanov joined the brand as an accountant, before becoming UK md in 1995, aged 26.
‘With her flair for innovative consumer marketing and incredible energy she established the Tempur brand in the UK through D2C sales. In 1999 she created a retail sales division and Tempur began partnerships with many of the UK and Ireland’s leading furniture and bedding retailers. During this period, she also worked closely with the company founders, Dag Landvik and Michael Magnusson, helping the company become established around the world,’ says the company.
‘The transformation of the company into a multichannel business was a UK industry first and saw Tempur UK grow significantly in the coming years.
‘Since her retirement the company has continued to build on the foundations she set. In 2015 she returned to live close to the town of her birth, Hawick. She is survived by her loving husband, Andy Hills and family members.’
‘This is an extremely sad moment for all of us in the Tempur family. Jacqui was a larger than life character, a true innovator and entrepreneur who made a huge impact in the industry and on me personally. Her incredible energy and work ethic, whilst being enormous fun, made her truly unique, and we are going to miss her terribly,’ says Tobin James, Tempur UK md.
