After 44 years in the greetings industry, Riou Baxter bade a fond farewell to friends and colleagues during a special reception at Spring Fair.
The last 16 years of his career have been spent as director and co-founder, (with Mike Broad), of Why Management Ltd, a specialist sales consultancy.
It was apt that the packed Museums & Galleries stand was the venue, as Why Management has successfully worked along key business partner Mint Publishing Group. Why Management will continue with Riou’s business partner Mike Broad steering the ship.
When Riou announced he was “hanging up his bootsâ€, a statement from Mint said: “Everyone at the Mint Group would like to be the first to wish Riou a very happy retirement. He has been with us from the beginning of our journey and it will certainly be different without him going forward. Riou has a special way of communicating with everyone, and his enjoyable and often very funny presence at headquarters will be missed by all.’’
Riou said: “May I take this opportunity to thank everybody who I have worked with over the past 44 years, especially my friends and colleagues at Accord Publications Plc, Hanson White Group Ltd and latterly at UK Greetings Ltd. It has been full of ups and downs, but always rewarding and mainly great fun.’’ He added: “With special mention and thanks to Alan and Debbie Williams at M!nt.’’