Source - LSE Regulatory
RNS Number : 0490W
Focusrite PLC
17 December 2021
 

For release: 17 December 2021

Focusrite plc

("the Company" or "the Group")

Board Changes and Appointment of New Non-executive Director

Focusrite plc (AIM: TUNE), the global music and audio products company supplying hardware and software used by professional and amateur musicians and the entertainment industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Butterworth as a new independent Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee.

Mike, aged 60, has over 25 years' experience in senior finance roles in FTSE 250, Small Cap, and AIM businesses across a broad range of sectors.  He was CFO of Incepta Group, prior to its acquisition by Huntsworth in 2005, and then Cookson Group until its demerger in 2012.  He is a former Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Kin and Carta plc, Johnston Press plc, Stock Spirits Group plc, and Cambian Group plc.

Mike is currently a Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Pressure Technologies plc and Hammerson plc.  He is a qualified chartered accountant with an Honours degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford.  Additional information in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies is given below.

Mike is replacing Paul Dean, current independent Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, who has served on the Board since the IPO and is now retiring from the Company in line with corporate governance best practice.

The Company also announces that Phil Dudderidge, currently Executive Chairman and Founder of Focusrite, will move to become Non-executive Chairman.

David Bezem, independent Non-executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees, will become Senior Independent Director and Naomi Climer, independent Non-executive Director, will take over as Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Naomi currently fulfils this role on the Board of Oxford Metrics Plc.

All of the above changes to the Board are effective from 1 January 2022.

Commenting on the changes, Phil Dudderidge said:

"It has been a great pleasure to know and work with Paul over many years.  We have benefited enormously from his contribution, sage counsel, and wealth of experience.  We will very much miss his input and on behalf of all stakeholders in the Company, I would like to thank him for his invaluable advice and for the immeasurable contribution he has made.  We wish him all the very best for the future.

"At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Mike to the Board and look forward to working with him as we enter the next stage of the Group's development.  He has an impressive track record of leading and advising companies in both executive and non-executive capacities.  His experience since 2010 in chairing audit committees and in Non-executive Director roles, together with his cross-sector expertise, will benefit our Group as we enter the next stage of growth."

Additional Information

The following additional information is provided in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies.

 

 

Mike Butterworth (aged 60)

 

Current Directorships/Partnerships

Directorships/Partnerships held within the past five (5) years

Hammerson PLC

Pressure Technologies PLC

 

Stock Spirits Group Plc

Kin & Carta PLC

Cambian Group plc

Johnston Press Plc

Anglia Newspapers Limited

Century Newspapers Limited

Derry Journal Limited

Isle of Man Courier Holdings Limited

Johnston Press Bond plc

Johnston Press Ireland Limited

Johnston Publications Limited

Johnston Publishing Limited

Montrose Review Press Limited

Morton Newspapers Limited

Northamptonshire Newspapers Limited

North Notts Newspapers Limited

Peterboro' Web Limited

Premier Newspapers Limited

Regional Independent Media Group Limited

TR Beckett Limited

The Tweeddale Press

Wilfred Edmunds Limited

Yorkshire Regional Newspapers Limited

 

Mike was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Johnston Press plc in June 2016. In March 2018 the company announced a strategic review which resulted in its filing for administration in November 2018, after an unsuccessful sale process. The Administrators' Progress Report, published in March 2020, anticipates that the bondholders, who were due £220 million upon appointment of the administrators, are likely to suffer a shortfall of approximately £48 million. Based on the outcomes of the administrators' investigations into the conduct of the directors and transactions entered into prior to the insolvencies, there were no matters identified that required further action.

There is no other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies.

 

-ends-

 

 

 

Enquiries:

Focusrite plc                                                                                         +44 (0) 149 446 2246

Tim Carroll, Chief Executive Officer

Sally McKone, Chief Financial Officer             

               

Investec Bank plc (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)             +44 (0) 20 7597 5970

David Flin              

William Brinkley  

Charlotte Young  

               

Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)                                                              +44 (0) 20 7418 8900

Edward Knight     

Michael Burke     

James Smith         

               

Belvedere Communications                                                               +44 (0) 20 3687 2756

John West            

Llew Angus           

 

The information communicated in this announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.

Notes to Editors

Focusrite plc is a global audio products group that develops and markets proprietary hardware and software products. Used by audio professionals and musicians, its solutions facilitate the high-quality production of recorded and live sound. The Focusrite Group trades under eight established brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, Ampify, ADAM Audio, Martin Audio, Optimal Au-dio, and Sequential.

With a high-quality reputation and a rich heritage spanning decades, its brands are category leaders in the music-making and audio recording industries. Focusrite and Focusrite Pro offer audio interfaces and other products for recording musicians, producers, and professional audio facilities. Novation and Ampify products are used in the creation of electronic music, from synthesisers and grooveboxes to industry-shaping controllers and inspirational music-making apps. ADAM Audio studio monitors have earned a worldwide reputation based on technological innovation in the field of studio loudspeaker technology. Martin Audio designs and manufactures performance-ready systems across the spectrum of sound reinforcement applications. Sequential designs and manufactures high end analogue synthesizers.

The Focusrite Group has offices in four continents and a global customer base with a distribution network covering approximately 240 territories.

Focusrite plc is traded on the AIM market, London Stock Exchange.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
BOATRBMTMTJBBFB
Find out how to deal online from £1.50 in a SIPP, ISA or Dealing account. AJBell logo

Related Charts

Focusrite PLC (TUNE)

+1.11p (+0.34%)
delayed 13:53PM