Exhibit 99.1


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


       In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Thermo Electron
Corporation (the "Company") for the period ended March 29, 2003 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the
undersigned, Marijn E. Dekkers, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

       (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
           15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
           material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
           of the Company.



                                           /s/ Marijn E. Dekkers
                                           -------------------------------------
Dated:  May 8, 2003                        Marijn E. Dekkers
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer