DAVID Mason, the chief executive who turned Coleg Gwent from a failing organisation plagued by debts into a success story, starts his retirement today.

Mr Mason, 60, has fully recovered from a stroke that hit him last May, but he said it was a "wake-up call" that prompted him to retire.

He took up the posts of chief executive and principal at the then Gwent Tertiary College in April 1998, when the college faced debts of almost £7m and the threat of strikes by deeply disillusioned staff.

Mr Mason, of Gwehelog, said: "The governors brought me in to turn that round. We've achieved that.

"The college is now very successful and financially stable. We have invested almost £18m and are putting £6m into new buildings and equipment this year.

"I'm 60 now, and it's time to move on and make way for a younger person. "After the stroke I was in hospital, and lots and lots of thoughts were in my mind, but Coleg Gwent wasn't one of them.

"I realised life wasn't a rehearsal. I was off for five months and thought the college would fall apart.

"I came back and it had been well looked after. I realised the organisation could go on quite well without me."

Mr Mason said the turnaround came through a combination of cutting the number of support staff, tighter financial controls and challenging the culture of the college.

In 2000 the college changed its name to Coleg Gwent and is now one of the top ten biggest colleges in the UK.

Mr Mason said: "I love fixing problem organisations and I am going to do some part-time consultancy work in the field. I also want to do some voluntary work with The Samaritans.

"My wife and I are staying in Wales as we love Wales and have grandchildren in Cardiff."

Mr Mason plans to spend more time with wife Sandra and their three daughters and two grandchildren.

He also hopes to take a Caribbean holiday and learn Latin American dancing and study Welsh.