23 May 2016
Dundee salon owner Agnes Leonard has been elected as the new national president of the National Hairdressers’ Federation.
Agnes has worked in the industry since the age of 12 and has run Croppers Hair Studio in Dundee for 36 years. She is the Federation’s first female president and took over from Paul Curry at the NHBF’s AGM on Sunday 15 May.
Paul, owner of Studio 12 hair salon in York, has become immediate past president and Ian Egerton, owner of The Stress Exchange hair and beauty salon in London, has become vice president.
Agnes said:
"I feel honoured to be the new president of the NHBF. It is a big thing to be our first female president as, after all, two thirds of NHBF members are female.
Being president of the NHBF is a huge responsibility but also a huge honour. Paul Curry has been an excellent president for the past two-and-a-half years and will be a hard act to follow.
Next year is our 75th anniversary as a Federation. We've come a long way since 1942 but, as an industry, we currently face unprecedented new challenges and cost pressures, such as the National Living Wage, pensions auto-enrolment and the changes coming through around apprenticeships.
But I am confident the Federation will continue to be a strong and active voice for our industry, fighting our corner in Whitehall, in Europe and the devolved regions. We will continue to support salon and barbershop owners in building up successful businesses and I am very much looking forward to playing my part within that."
Hilary Hall NHBF CEO, Ian Egerton Vice President, Agnes Leonard President and Paul Curry Immediate Past President at the recent NHBF AGM meeting.