Stepan Stojanov elected AREA president
26th May 2026
SPAIN: Stepan Stojanov, secretary general of the Czech association for cooling and air conditioning technology (SCHKT) has been elected president of AREA, the European air conditioning and refrigeration contractors’ association.
Following two years as vice-president, Stojanov replaces Coen van de Sande of the Dutch association NVKL, who will continue to serve on the board as past president.
AREA’s general assembly in Madrid on May 22 also saw the election of Thanos Biris of the Greek association HUFGAS to vice-president and Espen Rønning of VKE, Norway, as treasurer.
Marco Buoni of ATF, Italy, remains a member of the board, continuing his work under an international affairs mandate, while Seamus Kerr of IRI, Ireland, was re-elected as board member.
The Board also welcomed a new member, Karl-Heinz Thielmann (VDKF, Germany), while Grzegorz Michalski (KFCh, Poland) concluded his term and stepped down from the board.
“In recent years, AREA has successfully navigated the challenges of the review of the F-gas regulation, emerging stronger and more united,” commented incoming president Stepan Stojanov.
“Looking ahead, our priority is clear: to support contractors in adapting to this evolving regulatory landscape. This will require a strong focus on training for alternative refrigerants, ensuring compliance with safety standards in HVAC installation, safeguarding our market from illegal practices, and advancing digitalisation and cybersecurity.”
