Our favourite Croda moments
This may mark the close of
Caroline Hill
Eve Booth
History of the Baude family at the Chocques chemical plant
Baude Victor
Baude Francis
Baude Francky
Baude Thierry
Baude Patricia
Baude Victor Baude Francis
Francky Baude
Baude Francky
Patricia Baude
Thierry Baude
Michael Peagram
Sander Willemse
Yong Chuan Lew
Pamela Broughton
Jane Evison
Dennis Crowley
Herbert Shen
Sarah Saxelby
Jasmine Barcock
Phil Ruxton
August 1994
Graduates joining Croda in the ‘90’s were thrown in the deep end.
October 2004
Croda launches the 1% Club, giving all employees the opportunity to use company time to volunteer in their local communities, and it is still operating globally today.
September 2007
The beginning of Croda’s Sustainability journey –persuasion telling the story of Croda just doing the right thing.
Birgit Schmidt
Alan Knights
Susanne Hall
Kevin Bozec
Jill Ullathorne
Head of Business Excellence
Start date: 4 July 1994
“I’ve been lucky enough to make some friends for life at Croda and met people from all cultures with experiences.differentSo, would I recommend Croda to a friend or colleague – yes I would!”
I started my career at Croda on a Youth Training Scheme as a Laboratory Assistant where I worked Industrial Product Applications Laboratory at Cowick. I spent my time preparing home care formulations plus there was also a lot of beaker and conical flask cleaning for the other more senior chemist!. I was 16 at the time so it was such a shock going straight from school into industry, I used to ask if it was allowed to get a drink or leave site for lunch. We didn’t have laptops at the time and the only form of communications was letters, faxes and memos. The post used to arrive twice a day and I was always excited if I received any.
Although I loved my time in the laboratories and learnt so much about the product range and its value, I knew sales was where I wanted to be. I got the opportunity to move into internal sales in the year 2001, by this time we did have computers and SAP was just being implemented. Over the next 10 years I had various roles in sales, managing export countries and the UK region for Polymer Additives sector. I felt like this was the time I found my passion for
understanding customers’ needs and finding solutions that will add value to both Croda and the customer. Front line sales is a truly unique role and I would encourage anyone commercial minded to spend some time here. From this I progressed to marketing management again in Polymer Additives. I spent time with sales colleagues and customers around the world introducing new products, understanding customer needs and developing marketing strategies to match. I am making this sound like it was all work, which there was a lot of, but there was still time for fun and getting to know people through team building, diners and of course, bars.
The last few roles I’ve held have been more centrals roles developing how we can improve the customer experience, how we can connect better through digital touch points and how we can simplify and standardise our internal processes. I’m super proud of some of the achievements the teams I have worked in have delivered over the years, which I think is the essence of Croda, collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to improving.
Erik-Jan Bartels
Regional Vice President
“What I have enjoyed most were the personal relationships within the company, many are more than just colleagues.”
In 2006, I joined Croda through the acquisition of Uniqema. My journey with Uniqema had begun back in 1992, first under Unilever ownership and later as part of ICI. I still vividly remember when Croda’s then-CEO, Mike Humphrey, visited our site in Gouda shortly after the acquisition. He promised “a bumpy ride, but an exciting working environment for those who would still be there after Croda did their thing.”
Looking back, I can say I experienced the Croda way very positively. Bureaucracy was swept aside, and the organization transformed from a product-focused to a market-focused structure. Most importantly, the entrepreneurial spirit that had been lost under ICI was reignited.
At the time of the acquisition, I had just begun my first commercial role after 14 years in engineering and manufacturing. I transitioned from Product Manager for Polymerized Fatty Acids at ICI to Sales Manager in Polymers and Coatings at Croda.
The pictures below, taken at the 2009 European Coatings Show (ECS) and a 2011 sales meeting in Italy, capture a bit of that era. I’m sure many will recognize a number of familiar faces.
Our global Polymers and Coatings leadership team remained stable for several years. It was a “work hard, play hard” culture that made sales meetings and trade shows both exhausting and enjoyable. The result was a tightly knit team with strong trust and cooperation between Sales, Marketing, and R&D across all regions. To this day, I remain in regular contact with many of my colleagues from that time.
In 2015, Croda acquired Incotec, a seed enhancement company. Just six months after the acquisition, I was asked to lead the global Incotec organization to review the strategy, streamline the cost base, and unlock synergies with Croda.
The seed business demands an unwavering customer focus. Reliability, quality, local presence, and long-term commitment are essential. Any delay in delivering treated seeds could mean missing the sowing season, and with that, the loss of customer trust. I was deeply impressed by the strong sense of belonging and inclusion within Incotec, supported by numerous initiatives from both the company and its workers’ association. Participating in events like the 10-mile run was just one example of that vibrant community spirit.
In January 2024, I took on a new challenge as Head of Life Sciences for EMEA as part of the Orion changes. This was a significant shift for the organization and for me personally. Managing a region is quite different from running a business. While I was familiar with the agricultural sector, the pharmaceutical world was completely new territory. The picture below, taken in Leek, marks one of our first gatherings as the EMEA Life Sciences team.
Across all these roles, one thing has remained constant: my appreciation for working at Croda. The company provided me with opportunities to grow and the autonomy to make a difference (within reasonable boundaries, of course). But what I’ve valued most are the personal relationships. Many of my colleagues have become true friends, and those connections are what made all the difference.
Debbie Hill
Company Secretarial Assistant and Office Manager
“As Croda nears its centenary I am proud to have been involved in our AGMs since number 65. We have a great set of shareholders and it is lovely to catch up with them year on year.”
I can honestly say that the last 35 years has absolutely flown by. Little did I realise when I joined Croda on this day in 1989 that I would still be here today.
Fresh out of college after finishing my A Levels and lifeguarding at a local leisure centre, I didn't know what I wanted to do for a career. A chance opportunity for an office junior position arose at a company on my doorstep where not only could I get a free bus to work and back but there were also free lunches - what was not to like?
When I joined the only thing I knew about Croda was that it was where I used to go conkering as a child and as I got older it was where I played tennis on the back lawn - I didn't realise people worked there!
I spent 10 months in that role before moving to "the big house" to become a typist, allegedly working with the "snobs on site". Fortunately my new colleagues were far from that!
During my time in the "big house" I was encouraged to study for the Charted Secretary qualifications and am very proud to have passed 10 exams, whilst working full time and raising two children, achieving both Cert ICSA and Dip ICSA.
I have seen a lot of changes in technology - when I first started we were using typewriters and creating carbon copies - my typing skills really improved otherwise the tippex would have to come out!
Long before emails global communications were done by fax and telex with a department dedicated to sending these. Slowly I saw the introduction of desktop PCs (hardly desktop!) and first used Multimate, WordPerfect and Lotus Notes. A dear departed colleague used to ask "can you just see if you can find that letter that will be stored in your box". Gradually Microsoft found its way into the workplace, I can't remember the version I first worked with!
I have been very lucky to have been able to participate in Croda's share plans and have enjoyed spending the profits over the years. As I wind down towards retirement, I am building up my portfolio of shares - so to my current colleagues - please keep working hard so that the share price increases and tops up my pension pot!
I have always been supported by Croda whilst raising a family, working flexible hours which allowed me to take my children to school when they were small. We were often a familiar sight to passing colleagues driving into work - but only if it was nice weather! In more recent years Croda supported me during my husband's cancer treatment and celebrated with me when that treatment came to a successful end.
I hope I have conveyed how happy I am to work here and very blessed to have worked with, and still work, with some truly amazing people. Sadly some of these amazing people are no longer with us, but they left an impression on my working life at Croda.
Angela Kealey
Customer Relationship Lead
Coordinator
Ruth Ellway
Vice
President
Human
Resources
“I’ve loved my years at Croda, started in 1998 and met my hubby here too! I have lots of special memories with the adorable people I work with. We are like a family!”
“So proud to have worked for this company for 19 years this year, where has the time gone? A fabulous culture and ability to adapt, which I’m looking forward to seeing where this will take us.”
Rafael Mendez
Regional Vice President “Very proud yto be part of Croda!”
Marc
Teo
Regional Vice President “Another 100 years, please!”
Helen
Jeremiah
Global Vice President
Marketing
Marco Cantanhede
Managing
Director - Operations
“It’s amazing to be part of this incredible company!”
“Croda is very important for my professional and personal development. I am proud to be part of this team!”
Jenn
Hart
Vice President - Strategy
Adriana Nobre
Regional Vice President
Jose Balibrea
Vice President
Fragrances & Flavours
Dawn Christiensen
Regional
Vice President
Jeyanthi Krishnan
Asia
Regional Counsel
“I used to visit Croda as one of my customers. Then Croda bought the company I worked for. My mum was sure it was just to get me - that’s what mums are for!”
“Very proud to be part of this incredible company and our honour to join the team with such a strong purpose. My wife loved Croda working as a consultant in Brazil even before I joined!”
“Since 2022 I’ve been proud to be part of this great company, a piece of history in the UK and more importantly a people-focused company. The best is yet to come. Congratulations, Croda!”
“So 5 years ago I had never heard of Croda - now I cannot remember what life was like without it! Some tough times but not all bad, some good memories, great people & optimism for the future. To make 100 years of history and still be here so strong - BRAVO”
“I am very proud to be a part of a very thoughtful company, rich with history and wonderful people!”
Andrea Pendlebury
Director’s Assistant
“What I have enjoyed most were the personal relationships within the company, many are more than just colleagues.”
I joined Croda on 6 January 1992 and can clearly remember the day like it was yesterday!
I was employed to work for Stan Cressey who was a main board member and a couple of other senior directors namely Mike Humphrey and David Barraclough. I was based in the stables block in an office that was occupied by my predecessor who had been a very heavy smoker, so much so, that the office had to be redecorated before I joined. However, all the stationery such as headed paper, memos and fax paper had not been replaced and was stained yellow!
I worked in an insurance brokers in Leeds city centre before joining Croda based in a large open plan office and was worried having my own office would make it difficult to get to know my colleagues. I need not have worried everyone was so friendly and came to say hello and introduce themselves that by the end of my first day I already felt part of the Croda family.
There were only around 70 staff at the Cowick site when I joined and I was taken around and introduced to nearly everyone during my first week, what stuck in my mind was how many long-service people there
were, so many of the people I met had been at Croda over 25 years. I could never have imagined that I would stay with a company for that long yet here I am 33 and a half years later! The main reasons I have stayed at Croda for such a long time is that I really do love my job, I work within a great team who all support each other and have a manager who is both approachable and fair, my role is varied and interesting and there is nothing better than coming onto the Cowick site down the drive each day and seeing the how the changing seasons affect the landscape.
I have worked with so many lovely people over the years, some of whom unfortunately are no longer with us, and some of whom have become lifelong friends. I could not recommend Croda highly enough as a great Company to work for and hopefully I will be here for a few more years to come.