NHF names first female president
Agnes Leonard, owner of Dundee hair salon Croppers Hair Studio, has been named the new national president of the National Hairdressers’ Federation, a UK trade association for hair, beauty and barbering salons.
The organisation’s first female president, Leonard has owned her salon for 36 years and has worked in the hair industry since the age of 12. She takes over the position from Paul Curry, who is now immediate past president, while Ian Egerton, owner of The Stress Exchange in London, is now vice president.
Leonard commented: “I feel honoured to be the new president of the NHF. It is a big thing to be our first female president as; after all, two thirds of NHF members are female. 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.
“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.”
