It is a great honour and privilege to succeed Professor Fred Bosman as your President for the next two years. I am still coming down to earth from our wonderfully successful congress in Florence, so ably hosted by Professor Marco Santucci and his team. It was marvellous to see more than 2,600 participants and the ambience was most congenial. It is this fruitful combination of scientific and social activities that makes our congresses so special.

The European Society of Pathology is in great shape; financially sound with its own office in Brussels, a full time administrator (Krasi) and a committed Executive Committee. Under the leadership of Fred, the society has made accelerated progress in its development as a real force in European pathology.