Adrian Ryan Retires from Snazaroo
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Adrian Ryan, General Manager for Minehead, after an impressive 28-year career with Snazaroo Ltd. Adrian has played an instrumental role in Snazaroo’s success, and we will miss his dedication and leadership.
Adrian joined the Minehead team in 1995 and has since been a driving force behind many of our achievements. His unwavering commitment to excellence has contributed significantly to our growth and success. We want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for his years of hard work and dedication.
Adrian's leadership has been instrumental in raising our service levels and ensuring our customers receive the best possible experience. His passion for our mission has inspired all of us, and his legacy will continue to influence our work for years to come.
As Adrian embarks on a new chapter in his life, at the end of this year, we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement. We're sure he will find joy and fulfillment in this new phase.
Before we bid farewell, let's hear a few words from Adrian himself:
Dear colleagues,
Where do I start?
I think I will concentrate mainly on the Colart years but just to let you know, my Snazaroo career nearly didn’t happen. In 1995 I was in between jobs and saw a small advert for a bookkeeping role at a local, fairly new face paint manufacturer.
I had done bookkeeping in London before so applied for the job even though the nature of the business did not really appeal to me. In fact, one hour after the interview I had a call offering me the position and I turned it down. Two hours later the phone rang again, and I was offered an increase in money. This time I said yes but my idea was to look for “a proper job” at the same time. 28 years later here we are.
The original owner sold the company in 2004 to a consortium of investors whose idea was to turn it into a sports paint product.
This did not really work so one day in late 2005 the leader of the consortium came into my office and said, “I need to let you know that I have sold the company”.
This was not a surprise but what was, was what he said next - “and the new owners have just pulled up in the car park”. This was my introduction to Colart.
Given time I could write a book on the ensuing 17 years but I will try to keep this concise. Colart has been a wonderful employer to me and to the Snazaroo brand.
I have met so many exceptional and dedicated leaders & employees with such drive and passion. I have been given so many accolades and high 5’s over the years but two awards that stand out are the Colart Outstanding Achievement award and the Colart United award. which meant so much as it was about upholding all of the company values. When I say I, none of these awards would have happened without my fabulous, loyal team.
I have the finest group of managers here that anyone could ask for but one person must have a special mention and that is Jane Grier. None of my and Snazaroo’s successes would have happened without her. From the beginning we have spent so many late evenings (our choice) over the years working on reports, figures, planning, projects, graphs etc., some of which we had no idea how to do but we learned on the go. To the best of my knowledge, we never missed a deadline. Thank you also for your unwavering support and unbelievable patience.
I will leave behind a wonderful new state of the art modern building full of honest, dedicated, skilled and hardworking people and am certain that the future is bright for the company. I will feel proud every time I drive by as well as every time I see it lit up at night.
Finally, one more big thank you to Colart, you have given me an amazing career which has not only enabled me to travel the world with this fabulous product but also given me lifelong friends and memories that will last forever.
One team - one dream.
Adrian Ryan,
General Manager, Minehead
In light of Adrian's retirement, Jane Grier, our Deputy General Manager, will step in to manage the site on an interim basis while we search for a suitable replacement for Adrian. We believe that Jane's experience and dedication will ensure a seamless transition during this period.
With Adrian's departure, we will be opening a vacancy for the Site Manager role. This position will be posted in Splash shortly, and we encourage internal candidates to apply.
Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Adrian for his remarkable contributions to Snazaroo Ltd. We will celebrate his career and achievements in the coming weeks, and we hope you'll all join us in wishing him a happy and fulfilling retirement.
Dominique Murzeau,
Chief Manufacturing Officer
It’s with a very heavy heart that I read this news. Adrian was one of the first people I met from the wider Colart team and has been a great mentor and friend in the years that followed. Good luck and best wishes to you and your family, I hope you enjoy your retirement my friend, your passion, knowledge and commitment to Colart will be very difficult to replace.
I think Shane has said it all. 🙂 I’ve had the best and some of the messiest times with Adrian, from the Minehead legendary Christmas parties to a very messy day at the races, a great friend a great colleague and a fellow Spurs fan! You will be sorely missed, I wish you all the best in your retirement, you’ve certainly earned it.
Adrian – Am gutted to hear this news as during the past few years I have really enjoyed our interactions on a wide variety of topics – whether discussing how the new Snazaroo lights were a match for those in Vegas, or else merely discussing the woes of our respective football team’s current form, for example. But I recognise that the foundations and legacy you have built for the Snazaroo business will last for future generations so many congratulations to you!
Adrian, I had the pleasure of working closely with you during the (long) contractual negotiations for the building of the new site and your dedication to the brand was all to clear for me. You are, through and through, “Mr Snazaroo”. Thank you for your support on all matters. You have well and truly earned the right to put your feet up now! All the best.
The end of an era! Enjoy the retirement Ade, you deserve it. I have so many memories……some of which are better not put in writing ;-). The passion you, Jane and the team have always shown for Snazaroo and its role within Colart has always shone through – thank you for all your dedication over the years. A couple of highlights for me include photos from conventions and trade shows, really getting the growth going in the early days, nights out in Dunster and Minehead, seeing the Sales Director (Chris Webb) try and present a session at the sales meeting painted like an Easter Bunny…..and you losing your car when we went to Old Trafford to witness Spurs losing to Manchester United. Stay well my friend and enjoy the extra time with the family.
Adrian, you were a legend in your own life. What a great contribution to industry and to Colart. Your passion was admired by all. I will never forget you hosting the Sales and Marketing Conference in Minehead about 10 years ago. It was the best ever. You booked us in to a couple of small hotels in Dunster and it worked a treat. Loved it.
You will be sorely missed sir, however, I hope you have a great retirement. Good luck and the very best wishes.
Good to know that Adrian will stay on board till year end!
Well Adrian, what can I say, its been an absolute pleasure to have known and worked with you over my past 27 years at Colart 🙂
You are a legend, I will miss your team building workshops as well as putting me under hypnosis, hahah what a great night that was.
I wish you all the very best with your retirement, enjoy the goods times ahead with your family. Lots of Love & Best Wishes x
Hi Adrian, there aren’t many occasions that I am lost for words….but this is one of them. Thank you for all the passion, knowledge and expertise that you have so generously shared with me and the team over the years. Thank you for your creativity, your agility and can do attitude. All of this and more has enabled the brand to be what it is and give the brand future potential to what it can be. You have been an inspiration and a rock especially to your loyal and dedicated team in Minehead who I am sure, like the rest of us, will miss you enormously. A toast to Adrian “the world’s favourite facepaint General Manager!” I hope you paint many a smile in your happy retirement. All the very best, Anthony.
Very sad to hear this news, Adrian. Thank you for all great times that you have given us in Kidderminster over the years. Even when you hypnotised me! it was such a great night.
I wish you all the very best in your retirement. Good luck and Best Wishes.
Adrian, what a great testimonial. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of working with you, they will now know what a positive and lasting contribution you have made to Snazaroo and to Colart. Though we have had just a few interactions, I will remember your words of wisdom and the recent passionate discussion about the figurative “dirty dressing gown” scenario. 😊
Take care and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
Fantastic words Adrian. As you say, I am sure there are many many more you could have written. And thankfully I am pretty sure many of them would have been happy words.
You leave a lasting legacy for many people to continue to enjoy.
All the best in your retirement.
Martyn
Your retirement should be a celebratory of all the glorious years you worked at Colart/ Snazaroo. Adrian, your real passion, dedication, hard work, love (I can go on and on and on) for Snazaroo brand and your whole Minehead team is truly an inspiration, a great leader with a heart! I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your wisdom, insights and ofcourse the friendship you’ve generously shared with us over the years. Can’t wait to see more of the AMAZING ADE in future Colart parties !!! I wish you happiness, good health and long and fun retirement!
What a wonderful note Adrian! This is the start of a new exciting era for you and I’m sure you will have a wonderful retirement…think about all those mid week away matches you can now go to see 😜 COYS! It goes without saying,thank you for all that you have done, not least being such a great Colart/Snazaroo ambassador and stay in touch!
Good Luck Adrian and have a very happy retirement
Will really miss you Adrian. We have worked together for so many years….so many memories. The Minehead parties have been legendary (I wont say anything :-)). I know you are looking forward to the next chapter in your life. You really deserve it, relish every moment.
Definitely a work “life” well spent. Much happiness to you in the next chapter of life.