Unlike usual, this column is not about a new employee, but rather someone who has been with the company for some time. This year, our highly valued colleague Stefan Wittmer took his well-deserved retirement, raising the question of who would succeed him. Given his background in geology and crystallography, I found it particularly amusing that customers and suppliers affectionately referred to him as the “veteran” of thermography and hyperspectral imaging. With his extensive knowledge, collegiality, and great sense of humor, he leaves behind a large footprint that will not be easy to fill.

I was therefore flattered – and at the same time a little awestruck – when I was asked if I wanted to succeed him. With a tear in my eye, I left my sales region in central Germany in the field of scientific low-light imaging and modular spectroscopy after ten years and am now looking forward to new customers, exciting applications, and new supplier contacts. My thanks go to my contacts at AOS, Specim, and Xenics for the warm welcome—and especially to Stefan for the time we spent together.