Bulleidboy Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 It has been announced that Simon Kohler will retire at the end of May. I am sure everyone wishes him well in retirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB51 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 He will be missed. Not only “Mr Hornby” but also “Mr Sort-it”. R- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Matthews Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 I wonder what this means for the company. Especially TT:120 even though I don’t model in it. It seemed that he was the one pushing the idea and I wonder if it will continue without him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Really bad news for Hornby, I may gripe about them but he was the inspiration for getting things done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Really sorry to hear this but I can imagine that with TT & HM7000 both launched he feels like he has done what he set out to do when he returned to Hornby. The company is in a far better position than it was when he returned and they did well to tempt him back. I note it’s 5 years since he rejoined, so I would not be surprised if this has been his plan/agreement with them all along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 One asks, despite some misgivings, if the 'passion' will remain after his departure.I hope so.Perhaps its a time to 'rejuvenate' - fresh ideas, principles and initiatives.Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John-352284 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 All the best for Simon, his inspirational push for excellence in Hornbys' products was the deciding factor i opted to go TT120 otherwise i would not have even contemplated taking a hobby on board such as modelling trains.Im a stamp collector of Victorian ' Line engraved' and 'Surface Printed' stamps from 1840 to 1901. Since watching Hornbys product developments on TV, i wonder with curiousity could i model a train way, since 'OO' to large for available space at home TT129 seem a good idea.So i took the plunge and awaiting delivery of items ordered, Am selling my stamps to further fund the TT120 addiction.Hope Simon has a great retirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 A big pair of shoes to fill, there will be few with his depth of knowledge of the Toy and Model Railway industry. Nothing is forever and I am sure he deserves a bit of a break from the pressure of bringing ground braking products to market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Top man, I hope he has a peaceful retirement. And I hope the future of TT120 does him proud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard RK3 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Sad news indeed. But I do wish him all the best, no doubt that he has earned it! I hope whoever takes over continues his legacy and that new ranges such as TT.120 continue to grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill7437 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 The most helpful man of any modelling company that I know. Simon has really earned his retirement and I hope that he has many happy years to come in that role. Hornby will be the poorer for his departure and his successor will have very much to live up to. My very good wishes Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wairoalbany Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 I wish him all the best. I may not agree with everything he has done, however i happily admit that overall he has done a lot of good for Hornby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Bond Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Have a happy retirement Mr Kohler and trust you have negotiated a good discount on your future Hornby purchases as part of your retirement package!Hopefully he will still be willing to take the odd phone call from Hornby HQ so that his experience and wisdom will not be entirely lost.What I would like to know is who Hornby have got lined up to take over the SK role as front facing person and main ideas and listening person. That individual has big shoes to fill and will become the next “Mr Hornby”.Basically that person will be for Hornby what Steve Jobs was for Apple. Tim Cook is doing a decent enough job but he is not Steve Jobs. The challenge will be over the next few years to out Simon SK if that is at all possible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-Henny Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 That individual has big shoes to fill and will become the next “Mr Hornby”. Don't forget the Miss's and Mrs's.Might be a Montana internal promotion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesXRN Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Montana springs to mind for me too.Have a happy retirement Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 I've been waiting for the news to hit the web before I posted this. I wish Simon a long and happy retirement, had many chats over the years with Simon, and a last VIP visit to the factory in 2018. As most here will know I am not far behind with full retirement looming in the next 5 to 7 years. Sadly as humans we cannot carry the baton forever, it's up to younger people to keep our hobby moving on. The person who is going to take over Simon's role has big shoes to fill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelerXYZ Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 I wish Simon a happy retirement. XYZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo2 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Wishing Simon a happy and well deserved retirement, although it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't come back as a consultant wink.I'm sure the business will have been planning for Simon's departure for many months. No doubt he will be missed though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Good luck for the future Simon & thanks for every thing.I just now wonder who is going to be next??? 🤔🚂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kettering Junction Posted May 6, 2023 Share Posted May 6, 2023 A big loss for Hornby, but he’s done a superb job and was one of the reasons I got back into model railways. His enthusiasm and passion on the tv show highlighted to me how far Hornby had come since I last ‘played trains’ some 20 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelnut19 Posted May 8, 2023 Share Posted May 8, 2023 I guess it is not surprising but he has done a great job promoting Hornby over the years. Some do not like him but I just think he is great sales and marketing person. I would like to think that the various model railway programmes he has been involved with over the years, including the second, successful Barnstable to Bideford attempt, along with the much two more recent A Model World series, must have helped modelling as a whole. May he have a long and happy retirement. I also wish whoever takes over my best wishes. Perhaps it will be Montana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Bus Driver Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 I can definitely see Montana stepping up. She's got a good head for business and has a background in promotions as well plus she's very approachable at shows. She also knows the brand from working closely with Simon so she'd be a natural choice. That's if she wants the job, of course. I'm reliably informed that Simon is taking his consultancy business out of mothballs so he's not retiring from model railways so he's definitely keeping his hand in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rman Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 what sad news. He’s the one that has made Hornby what it is today. Hornby is even bigger and better then before. It has it’s own TV show for crying out loud. Yeah you may get your odd faulty loco but Hornby locomotives coming out today are much better than have been before. It will be really sad to see him leave. 😢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas-356818 Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 I would like to wish Simon all the best for the future, he has given great service to the UK modelling/railway community.It will be hard to find someone with his enthusiasm and commitment to replace him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Call me cynical, but I'm suspecting several of his 'green light projects' had been changed to 'amber' ...There's always a lead time, but several appear to be gathering cobwebs.All the very best to Simon, and all of the above compliments are very well founded and deserved.Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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