Chris Breeze, profine UK Ltd General Manager has died suddenly of a heart attack while playing golf on holiday in Portugal. He was 63.

He had spent his working life in the window industry, and is best remembered for his 23 years with Kömmerling. As Kömmerling’s General Manger when the brand’s parent group, profine, was created two years ago, he then took on joint responsibility for profine in the UK.

He also personal charge of the day-to-day running of Kömmerling’s biggest account, Speed Frame. Speed Frame Managing Director Ian Harrison says: Chris had become a well-known face at Speed Frame over the last ten years and one who I regarded as a personal friend. He brought his good humor and wide ranging product knowledge to the table and was instrumental in the development of our five-chamber profile.

‘He knew both Kömmerling and Speed Frame inside out and was a key factor in enabling the two companies to cooperate so successfully, which has seen both companies grow to be market leaders. He will be sadly missed by many in the industry and in particular by all his friends at Speed Frame.’

Amongst the developments Chris oversaw during his time with Kömmerling, were the introduction of the 70mm chamfered system, the clasically-curved Connoisseur ovolo system, the introduction of the UK’s first profile to be extruded using Calcium-Zinc stabilisers instead of Lead, and the setting up of the Kömmerling warehouse and national distribution system.

John Warburton, who has jointly taken over temporary responsibility of the general day-to-day running of Kömmerling, says: ‘Chris Breeze brought great stability to Kömmerling, taking it from a brand which had very little volume and sales in the UK, to its market-leading position today.’

Before joining Kömmerling Chris had worked in the window industry in Bermuda – a place he loved returning to for holidays after coming back to the UK when his children reached school age.

Chris had been a keen sportsman and athlete, in his younger days running the London and New York marathons and playing football and rugby – latterly turning to golf. He also enjoyed seafishing, and rebuilding classic cars.

He leaves a wife, two children and several grandchildren.

Source

Glass Age