Chemours’ Mark Hughes announces retirement

UK – Mark Hughes FInstR is to retire from Chemours UK at the end of October after 20 years in the refrigeration industry.

Hughes, currently business development manager at Chemours, has worked through some of the sector’s most significant regulatory and technological changes, from the phase-out of R22 to the F-Gas phasedown and transition towards lower-GWP refrigerants.

Two decades in refrigeration

A PhD chemist, Hughes began his career with ICI in 1984, spending 22 years in its coatings business before moving into refrigeration with DuPont Fluorochemical Refrigerants in 2006.

He continued with Chemours following its spin-off from DuPont in 2015, with his work including the promotion of lower-GWP refrigerants and engagement with contractors, end users, regulators and industry bodies.

Industry leadership

Alongside his commercial career, Hughes has held a number of senior industry positions.

He served as president of the British Refrigeration Association from 2021 to 2023 and has chaired both the BRA Equipment and Components Section and its BRACES statistics group.

Hughes was appointed chair of the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations in 2022 and became a Fellow of the Institute of Refrigeration in 2023 in recognition of his contribution to the RACHP industry.