Board Changes, Appointment of New NED
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.
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