The Golden Leaves Trust proudly celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Arnold Pindar, who concludes his term as Chair of the Trust this July after six years of dedicated service. At the prestigious Chartered Trading Standards Institute’s (CTSI) Annual Awards Ceremony in June 2025, Arnold was named “Consumer Champion 2025”—a fitting tribute to over five decades of tireless advocacy for consumers in the UK, across Europe, and internationally.

Arnold’s legacy of leadership includes serving as Chairman of the National Consumer Federation (now the National Independent Consumer Organisation – NICO) from 2009 to 2025, and Presidentof ANEC, the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation, from 2011 to 2019. His influence on regulatory standards, particularly in consumer safety and service quality, has had a lasting impact on public policy, industry practices, and consumer welfare.

Louise Baxter MBE, former Chair of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, paid tribute toArnold at the CTSI Conference, stating: “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Arnold for many years, and throughout that time I’ve come to deeply value not only his remarkable expertise, but also his insight, integrity, and unwavering dedication to consumers. Arnold has always brought exceptional attention to detail and clarity of thought to even the most complex issues. His commitment to ensuring that consumer voices are heard, particularly in technical and regulatory environments where they’re often overlooked, has left a lasting impact, not just in the UK but across Europe and beyond. Whether through his leadership at ANEC, his contributions at BSI, or his continued work with the National Consumer Federation, Arnold has shaped standards and
policies that genuinely improve people’s lives. It’s been a privilege to work alongside someone so principled, diligent, and generous with their time and wisdom.”

Arnold brought that same clarity and consumer-first mindset to his role as an independent trustee of the Golden Leaves Trust. Reflecting on his time at the Trust, he said: “As an independent member of the Golden Leaves Trusts, it is my role to ensure that money paid to Golden Leaves for pre-paid funeral plans remains safe until needed. As someone very active in the consumer movement across Europe and experienced in standardisation, I can personally endorse and contribute to Golden Leaves’ high levels of quality, standards and consumer protection within their operational activities and their work to promote these qualities through the Funeral Planning industry.”

The Trustees, staff, and wider Golden Leaves community extend their deepest thanks to Arnold for his exceptional service, leadership, and advocacy. His legacy will continue to guide and inspire our mission of integrity, trust, and protection for all funeral plan holders.