At the end of 2021 the Experts co-founder, Mike Thornton, retires.

Mike didn’t want ‘any fuss made’ but I vetoed that decision. Without Mike there would be no Experts web sites in the last decade, I should know having built them with him. To allow him to depart without honouring him and giving the community an opportunity to give their thanks would have been a disservice to his great work.

My late father once told me never to go into business with anyone else, it will always end badly. I’m glad I ignored his advice on that occasion. Mike Thornton is one of the most patient, decent, hard working people I know. He has worked tirelessly over the last decade to make the Experts one of the most respected websites in the pro audio industry.

Reading this you might think we always agree, far from it. But with the exception of an argument that lasted from 9am until 3pm, finally resolved with the help of Editor Julian Rodgers, we’ve rarely had a cross word.

What has made our relationship so effective is that Mike and I share the same values and vision for the what we wanted to do with this blog. However, our approach to getting there is always very different. I was always wanting to move fast, shoot from the hip and do everything yesterday. Mike, on the other hand, is calm, thoughtful and detail oriented. The combination has been magical.

Mike doesn’t like sloppy work, hates dishonesty and won’t ever allow compromise on quality, integrity matters. Those values now run throughout the site.

Mike retires to put his feet up, but we doubt he’ll be gone for good. His DNA runs through the blog and the blog’s DNA though him. He will continue to be Chairman of the Experts board helping us to steer the company into the future, so he’ll still be with us behind the scenes.

We’ve spent the past 18 months building a team to help fill the hole left by Mike - in the end we realised it would take four people! So the blog is in a good shape, the work will continue to be done and we will continue to go from strength to strength.

Mike is not just my co-founder, he is my friend. If you think you’ll miss him then that’s a fraction of the loss I am going to feel with him gone.

The picture at the top shows Mike at his happiest. Whenever we go for team meals there’s one thing that is certain - Mike will order ice cream.

So thank you Mike, for your friendship and your leadership, but most of all for being you.