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Chris Yates named as next FETA chief executive

UK: Chris Yates, current business development director and CEO of CORGI Services, has been announced as the new chief executive of FETA.

Yates has over 20 years’ experience of the heating industry in manufacturing, distribution and a number of roles with industry bodies. 

He will take over in early September from Russell Beattie, who is retiring after seven years in the role. 

During his career Yates has served as MD with heating companies Boulter Buderus, Heating World Group, Johnson & Starley and Cranfield Electronics. As well as working for the Energy Utilities Alliance, he has also been a steering group member of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, chairing the Installer subgroup. He has been a non-executive director of the National Home Improvement Council and the Gas Industry Safety Group and chair of OFTEC. 

Chris Yates will be the first FETA supremo without a military background for more than 35 years. His predecessor Russell Beattie was appointed to the role in 2014 after a successful military career with the MOD’s British Forces Post Office. Cedric Sloan who served as director general from 1998 to 2014 was a former army major. Before him, Ron Baker held the role for 13 years, joining FETA after a career in the RAF.

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