Simon sold his shareholding to Mark and Jim last year and has spent the last few months preparing to handover to others in the business. Managing director Mark Johnson paid the following tribute:
"We'll truly miss Simon's contribution; his input has helped foster the unique blend of creativity and innovation here at Stage One. And we know he'll be missed by our clients too. He's a very respected character in the industry."
Technical director Jim Tinsley added, "We wish Simon the very best in his retirement. The transformation the company has undergone in the last 30 years is incredible and we'll miss the part that Simon's energy and enthusiasm has played in this. It's hard to replace him, but our new sales & marketing director Tim Leigh has been working alongside Woody for the last six months in readiness for his departure. We've known this was coming and we've had time to make the transition."
Simon leaves the business in very different shape to the one he founded. The breadth and depth of Stage One's offering is unrecognisable from when it began 30 years ago.
(Jim Evans)
