Jacqui Stefanov, Tempur UK’s visionary Managing Director from 1995 to 2015, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Saturday 13 June 2026. She was 58 years old.
Jacqui became Tempur UK Managing Director in 1995 at just 26 years old after joining the company as an accountant. With her flair for innovative consumer marketing and incredible energy she established the Tempur brand in the UK through direct-to-consumer sales.
In 1999 she created a retail sales division and Tempur began partnerships with many of the UK and Ireland’s leading furniture and bedding retailers. During this period, she also worked closely with the company founders, Dag Landvik and Michael Magnusson helping the company become established around the world.
The transformation of the company into a multi-channel business was a UK industry first and saw Tempur UK grow significantly in the coming years. Since her retirement the company has continued to build on the foundations she set. In 2015 she returned to live close to the town of her birth, Hawick, in the Scottish Borders. She is survived by her loving husband, Andy Hills and family members.
Tempur UK Managing Director Tobin James commented: “This is an extremely sad moment for all of us in the Tempur family. Jacqui was a larger than life character, a true innovator and entrepreneur who made a huge impact in the industry and on me personally. Her incredible energy and work ethic whilst being enormous fun made her truly unique and we are going to miss her terribly.”
