Farewell from Ray

N.B. This blog was originally sent as a letter to our mailing list and published here retrospectively.

Dear reader,

On Tuesday 2nd October 2019, I will be stepping down as Element’s Chief Executive Officer.

As you will probably be aware, I sold Element to Crawford Scientific Holdings in November 2018 and since then, I have gradually withdrawn from the business, making space for Element’s management team and its new owners to take on the direction and management of the company.

Element has been my baby for the last 23 years. Perhaps oddly, I feel relaxed about stepping down. However, I have been working towards this point for the last five years and I am delighted to be leaving Element, its team members, customers and suppliers in very good hands.

Mission accomplished!

It’s now safe to let you all into my big secret: I am a p**s poor chemist and I have been bluffing all along!

I entered the World of work equipped with a 3rd class degree in applied chemistry from Thames Polytechnic. It has been an eternal mystery to me that so many highly qualified, skilled and competent people would be willing to work for, buy from and partner with, a duffer like me!

Phew! I got away with it. Perhaps that’s why I’m feeling so relaxed!

I will miss working with the Element team. You know as well as I do, they are a truly great bunch and it has been a huge privilege to lead them.

I have friends in the analytical chemistry community all over the World – customers, suppliers, business partners and competitors, thank you all for your friendship and the positive contributions you have made to me and Element over the last two-and-a-bit decades. I will stay in touch with as many of you as I can.

My mobile number will remain the same and I never say no to a pint!¹

Kind Regards

Ray Perkins

1 Alcohol free nowadays