Board Changes

Focusrite PLC

02 March 2026

 

Strictly embargoed: 07:00, 2 March 2026

Focusrite plc

("Focusrite", "the Group", or "the Company")

Board Changes

Focusrite plc (AIM: TUNE) is pleased to announce that Ian Barkshire has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate of the Company with immediate effect.

Subject to shareholder approval, Ian will succeed Philip Dudderidge OBE, the founder and current Chair, as Non-Executive Chair following the conclusion of the Company's forthcoming Annual General Meeting, anticipated to be held in July 2026.

As part of this planned transition, Philip Dudderidge will remain on the Board as a Non-Executive Director working closely with Ian to ensure a smooth transition of Board leadership. The Board believes Ian's appointment reflects the Company's continued development and evolution as a global music and audio group while retaining the benefit of Philip's extensive industry knowledge and insights.

Ian was the CEO of Oxford Instruments plc between 2016 and 2023. He spent over 25 years at the business in a number of leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer and Group Technical Director.

Ian brings significant commercial, leadership and public company experience having spent most of his career driving the development, commercialisation and delivery of innovative technologies and specialised products to the world's leading industrial companies. During his tenure as CEO of Oxford Instruments plc, Ian oversaw significant value creation, with an increase in the business's market capitalisation of more than three times.

Earlier in his career, Ian was a Senior Principal Scientist at GEC-Marconi Materials and a Research Fellow at the University of York. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Ian is currently a Non-Executive Director of Melrose Industries PLC. He is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and Chair of Illumion Limited, a University of Cambridge start-up company.

It is intended that Ian will join the Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees following his appointment as a director.

The Company also confirms that David Bezem, Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Nomination Committee, has advised the Board that he will not be standing for re-election at the forthcoming AGM. The Board thanks David for his valuable contribution and service during his tenure since the Company's IPO in December 2014.

Philip Dudderidge OBE, Founder and Chair of Focusrite plc, said:

"Focusrite has reached an important stage in its evolution, and I am delighted that Ian has agreed to join our Board as Chair Designate. His experience leading a world class listed technology-driven international business makes him ideally suited to guiding the Board through the next phase of the Group's development. I'm delighted to be remaining as a Non-Executive Director and look forward to supporting Ian and continuing to contribute to Focusrite's future."

"I would also like to thank David personally for his support, insight and commitment during his time on the Board. He has made a substantial contribution to Focusrite's development, and we wish him every success for the future."

Ian Barkshire, Chair Designate, added:

"I'm delighted to be joining the Board of Focusrite plc. The Focusrite Group sits at the heart of the Content Creation and Audio Reproduction industries, with leading brands, a track record of strong product innovation and a passionate global customer base.  I look forward to working with my fellow Board members, the executive team and all stakeholders to build on the strong foundations already in place.  I'm extremely excited by the future prospects of the Focusrite Group and by the opportunity to help deliver long term growth and shareholder value."

AIM Rule 17 - Schedule Two (g) disclosures

The following information is disclosed in accordance with Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

Current directorships:

·      Melrose Industries PLC

·      Illumion Limited

·      IRB Advisory Limited  

Previous directorships held within the last five years:

·      Oxford Instruments PLC

·      Oxford Instruments Overseas Holdings Limited                                 

·      Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Holdings Limited         

·      Oxford Instruments Holdings Europe Limited                              

·      Oxford Instruments Uk 2013 Limited                                           

·      Oxford Instruments Overseas Holdings 2008 Limited                     

·      Oxford Instruments Industrial Products Holdings Limited               

·      Oxford Instruments Overseas Marketing Limited                             

·      Andor Technology Limited                                                                   

·      Oxford Instruments AFM Limited                                                            

·      Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited

·      Andor Technology Inc

·      Oxford Instruments America, Inc.

Ian Richard Barkshire (60) does not hold any ordinary shares in the Company.

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

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Enquiries:
Focusrite plc	[phone]
Tim Carroll (CEO) / Sally McKone (CFO)
Investec Bank plc (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)	[phone]
David Flin / Nick Prowting / James Smith
Rosewood (Financial PR)	[phone]
John West / Llewellyn Angus / Lily Pearce

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 thirteen established brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, Ampify, ADAM Audio, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Linea Research Sequential, Oberheim, Sonnox, OutBoard and TiMax.

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 synthesizers 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. Linea designs, develops, manufactures and sells market innovative professional audio equipment globally. Sequential designs and manufactures high end analogue synthesizers under the Sequential and Oberheim brands. Sonnox is a leading designer of innovative, high-quality, award-winning audio processing software plug-ins for professional audio engineers. TiMax specialises in innovative immersive audio and show control technologies. OutBoard manufactures and sells industry standard rigging control products for live events, together with enterprise-level safety test, preparation and quality management for global rental companies and venues.

The Company 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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