Geert Lareu and Claude Corneillie enjoy retirement

After a great career at Athena Graphics, it is time for Claude Corneillie and Geert Lareu to start a new chapter: their well-deserved retirement! On 30 April, they officially said goodbye to Athena.

Geert Lareu started at Athena 27 years ago and has worked enthusiastically as an account manager all these years.

What was your most memorable moment?
One of the most memorable was surely the personal thank you video from 1 of the largest packaging printers during a New Year’s reception. This moment underlined the appreciation and impact of the work done here – something to be proud of!

In addition, the surprise for my 50th birthday was an unforgettable moment. The colleagues literally surprised me with a new door with all the names and birthday wishes on it.

What will you miss most?
I will miss the fun and humour in the workplace. Especially the jokes with the colleagues provided a smile and nice working atmosphere every day.

I will also miss the contact with customers. The daily interactions, fine conversations and cooperation gave great satisfaction. Every day was exciting and varied, something that will definitely be missed.

What are your plans for the future?
Sitting still is not on the plan! Going on holiday, cycling and especially spending time with the grandchildren are high on the list – and of course so much more!

Claude Corneillie looks back on a 30-year career as technical flexo manager in which technology always came first.

What was your most memorable moment?
Without a doubt, my most memorable moment was the integration of the intelligent printing plate ‘iPlate’ on the Zünd cutting table. I had a big part in the development and start-up of this project. It was a challenging process to see how everything came together and was finally implemented successfully.

What will you miss the most?
The technical aspect of my job and especially the quick interventions in case of breakdowns. Solving problems quickly and efficiently gave me enormous satisfaction. I will also miss the spontaneous chats with colleagues and, of course, the many pleasant contacts with customers and suppliers.

What are your plans for the future?
First of all, I will be doing odd jobs in my house and garden, finally having time for everything that was left lying around. In addition, I look forward to enjoying holidays or longer weekends together with my wife. We still have so many places we want to explore.