Tony Lisanti, CEO of Wiltshire bed, sofa bed, foam and upholstery group Airsprung Group plc, a leading UK prime manufacturer, has been elected president of the National Bed Federation (NBF).

The NBF is the recognised trade association for British and Irish bed manufacturers and their suppliers. Founded in 1912, the NBF represents UK manufacturers of beds and their suppliers and today its members account for about 70% of the total UK bedding turnover.

An NBF Council/Board member for some 16 years, Tony has seen the trade association transform itself into a modern, forward thinking and highly ambitious organisation.

Tony, who also sits on the NBF Quality and Standards committee and chairs the Recycling committee said:

“I am genuinely honoured to be the next NBF president. I aim to continue the sterling work of past presidents on raising standards in the industry and making further significant progress on how the industry handles waste and recycling.

“The NBF has played a vital part in educating consumers about the benefits of a good bed as a requisite for good health, alongside insisting on high levels of integrity from its members presenting themselves to those consumers. As the market continues to develop and change ever more rapidly, I can see both challenges and opportunities for the industry and I am absolutely sure that with the proven talent across the membership and the association’s leadership, the NBF and its members will continue to thrive.”

Tony started his working life as an apprentice technician with Mars Ltd in 1974 before graduating in Engineering & Business from Coventry Polytechnic in 1984. He then worked in various technical, sales and commercial positions with Rio Tinto Zinc before becoming a director of a subsidiary business within that group at 28 years of age. Having moved to conglomerate Spear & Jackson plc to take on a role of managing director of a small division he was eventually appointed CEO of that group in 1998. He then moved to Airsprung in 2002, became a major shareholder in the business and oversaw various strategic changes, including its successful sale into private ownership. The business now supplies its products through all distribution routes to the eventual consumer.