After nearly 40 years of loyal service to Colart, I am writing to confirm that Richard Llewellyn, Chief Sustainability Officer, will retire from the company at the end of this year.
As a result of Richard’s retirement, we will look to replace the Chief Sustainability Role with its position on the GLT towards the end of next year. In the meantime, Ajita Chamberlin, Group Sustainability Manager, will temporarily report directly to me until the position is filled.
Richard’s career with Colart, spanning many different roles, functions and locations, is a story in itself – “It was meant to be a fill-in job to earn some cash as I had a place the following year at University to complete my masters studies” is a story Richard often tells. We are very thankful that he became so much more.
Starting in 1983, Richard’s potential was spotted. He soon moved into Production Planning, followed by several developmental moves and a relocation to the Lowestoft factory in 1991. By 2001, Richard was running the Lowestoft factory before his move into a group function and, ultimately, his most recent role as Chief Sustainability Officer.
Richard’s journey in Colart (to read the timeline, click here) reflects our aspiration that anyone with an open and flexible attitude and a desire to grow personally and professionally can take advantage of development opportunities across Colart for career progression. As Richard says, “If an opportunity comes up – take it!”
We took the opportunity to ask Richard a few questions ...
What is the first thing you are going to do when you retire?
Retirement – what’s that? Retiring from Colart will free up time to allow me to be involved in many things locally to me. I have been a member of my local wildlife trust the RSPB & NT for 30+ years so will spend time volunteering in these areas ideally in an outside environment. I also aim to use my operational & sustainability experiences to help local not for profit organisations in an advisory or non-executive role. I would also love to get my bird ringing licence and spend a few weeks each spring and autumn supporting the RSPB maybe on a remote island!
Who was one person in Colart who had the most impact on you and why?
There have been a few. Richard Woolard, a previous Operations Director convinced me to not go back to university and stay in the business. Cris Wraight, a previous MD offered me the role in Lowestoft and the subsequent move to Suffolk changed my life. And of course, recently Dennis giving me the opportunity to focus on sustainability – something that is close to my heart and I’m so pleased to be part of the Colart journey.
What is your proudest/funniest/toughest moment at Colart?
Many proud moments, I love walking into art stores and saying to myself, I had a hand in designing and developing that. Many tough moments especially when restructuring businesses and having to let people go. Very many funny moments especially when overseas travelling, normally involving dining.
What did you learn in these moments?
Be honest with people, listen to them but be straight and make sure to learn a bit about other cultures.
One thing about Colart you will remember?
I have often found myself at events or parties and people ask you what you do or who you work for. A friend of mine once shared a house with a scientist at Porton Down the UK top secret chemical & biological weapons site. At the dinner table he wouldn’t / couldn’t say much about what he did but when my turn came, it felt good talking about Colart - the home of creativity and I will cherish that forever.
What nugget of advice would you give your team?
Cultivate an open & flexible attitude personally, with your colleagues & within your teams. If an opportunity comes up – take it!
If not 30+ years at Colart, what else instead?
Honestly, I have never felt if only….
It is with gratitude that we celebrate Richard’s forthcoming retirement and pride that he has been, for so long, part of the Colart Family and of course we hope that connection continues.
Please join me in wishing Richard a long and happy retirement.
Dennis van Schie
CEO
Amazing to see your career Richard and you have most definitely lived by example for the nugget of advice you are giving!
You deserve a long and happy retirement 🏆
Working with Richard over the years was one of the many things that made me want to come into work each day. He has a way of making everyone feel part of the team, nurtures individual attributes and helps people become something more than they ever thought they could. He is a human sponge. He sucks in facts from everywhere and anywhere and anyone who has spoken with Richard will know he can hold a conversation about any subject.
It is amazing to think of everything Richard has done over the years within the Colart Group and I know he will be dearly missed. On the positive side the world will be a better place now Richard will have more time to organise it. Enjoy yourself and have Fun Richard you deserve it!
You will be sorely missed Richard, a Colart legend. You have left a legacy and impacted many people within the business. With your time (decades!) being remembered by many fondly due to your relentless positive attitude. All the best for the next chapter, with many good times for you to come I am sure.
When the Snazaroo brand became part of the Colart family back in late 1995 we obviously had to change our way of working very quickly. It was a very unsettling time and there were a few genuine helpful people that stood out and made the transition very easy. Richard was one of these. Janet Keightley, who was the Financial Director at the time, gave me these words of advice, “If you ever need any assistance or guidance on anything to do with your site contact Richard Llewellyn at Lowestoft and he will always help you”. I did exactly that and Richard’s sound advice became my comfort blanket for many years. Over the following years I have spent many hours with Richard, in and out of work, and I can honestly say that I have never come away without learning something new. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to know and work with Richard and on behalf of myself and everyone at Snazaroo, we wish him a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.
Will really miss you! You are our go to, our font of all knowledge, the one who always will have the answer, or knows where to find it. you are leaving such a void. Thank you so much for all your support and generosity with your time
Sorry to hear you are retiring Richard, I will always fondly remember one of the many visits to Lowestoft and the evening meal we all had together, all the local knowledge you imparted to us about Lowestoft and travelling back to the hotel from the restaurant where you demonstrated your singing voice that any Welsh choir would have been proud of.
You are like a walking encyclopedia Richard, I have really enjoyed listening to your experiences and thoughts on life and the world in general over the years. I have learnt alot from you and thank you for listening to me and your support over the years. I wish you the best of luck in your retirement – you so deserve it. Will REALLY miss you.
All the very best for you going forwards Richard – I am sure your enthusiasm, knowledge and passion will greatly benefit all of the areas you mention above. Kind regards, Adam.
Good luck in your retirement Richard, it has been a pleasure working with you over the years. You will be missed by many at Kiddy.
Richard, all the very best for your retirement – Colart without ‘RLL’ will seem a strange place for a while! I’ll miss the friendly, but honest, advice as you have always been someone I can rely on for that. Your dedication and passion for Colart is in your core and I’m sure you feel rightly proud of your many achievements. I recall solid, insightful advice from when I started at Oasis Art & Craft, that was in a really poor financial position at the time, to the passion for brush making…..and right through to helping accelerate our important sustainability journey. I also have many fond memories of a catch up over dinner – be it chatting about work or……rugby! (Do you still owe me a tenner?). I do hope to see you around Richard, thank you again and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
This definitely feels like the end of an era…
reading all the comments of colleagues, I subscribe to all sentiments above. It has been such a luxury to have your experience and knowledge to rely on, but mostly I admire your positive attitude toward challenges and difficulties, you have really lead by example. I hope your retirement will be everything you expect it to be, you have earned it!
So much experience Richard! You will be missed but I wish you well in retirement, hope you get time to watch Wales play rugby in person and Pob hwyl i’r dyfodol.
You will be missed, Richard. What a career and how much you have contributed! Wishing you the best of luck with adventures new and I hope you are able to spend time following your passions.
Richard was my boss, for several years, at Crown Artist Brush. His knowledge of the business of making fine art paint brushes was exceptional but he was always open to ideas and suggestions to make things better. Even in later years after he had moved on from Lowestoft, on his visits, he would always come round to talk to everyone and ask how they were, know a little bit about everyone and even have a look at any new processes we had adopted. It was always a pleasure and a comfort having him at the helm. You’ll be missed Richard but enjoy all of your future endeavours!
Richard one of my dearest friends at colart. I have such fond memories spending time with you on my regular trips to Lowestoft in the early days of my career at colart, then continuing that relationship as our roles have evolved over the past decade. Always a friendly face, and understanding ear – I’ll miss my Richard hugs when I’m back in the hub, but truly hope we can stay in touch. Enjoy your well earned retirement xx
So happy to have met you and to have spend time together Richard!
Your wisdom is inspirational, your positivity infectious and your kindness so warming.
Your knowledge will be missed so much; not sure how we can do without.
Thank you for sharing all your support and great stories and enjoy your retirement!
I echo the same sentiment as many of our colleagues around Colart.
Richard had the biggest impact on me and my career, he has such an abundance of knowledge and always happy to spend time to share and to educate; he is our very own human encyclopaedia. Sometimes for me, just keeping up with his walking was a task in itself 😊. Richard was my boss for 25 years, my mentor, my work father and my friend.
Thank you for all the time and support you afforded me; you will be dearly missed! Enjoy a well-deserved retirement Richard and please keep in touch!
Hi Richard, Wow we have known each other for nearly 38 years! It has always been a pleasure working with you and helping us through difficult situations over the years. I still remember doing Karaoke in Taiwan 25+ years ago, when you beautifully sang Delilah and I massacred Your Song! Your knowledge and level-headedness will be sorely missed. I wish you every happiness for the future.
I feel lucky and glad to work with you. I believe you will be missed. Best wishes to you 🙂