PHIL DUDDERIDGE AWARDED OBE

Focusrite PLC

02 January 2024

 

For immediate release.

Focusrite plc

("Focusrite" or "the Group")

CHAIRMAN PHIL DUDDERIDGE AWARDED OBE FOR SERVICES TO BUSINESS AND TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

IN THE KING'S NEW YEARS HONOURS LIST

Focusrite plc (AIM: TUNE), the global music and audio products group based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, supplying hardware and software used by professional and amateur musicians and the entertainment industry, is delighted to announce that Chairman and Founder Phil Dudderidge has received the honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Business and to the Music Industry in the New Years Honours List.  This commendation is in recognition of the incredible contribution he has made to the professional audio industry over several decades.

Phil has enjoyed a distinguished career, initially working as Led Zeppelin's touring soundman in 1970. He set up RSD Systems Ltd in a partnership of three in 1971, building bespoke PA systems with custom-built mixing consoles. This evolved into Soundcraft Electronics Ltd, a company specialising in live and studio mixing consoles, which was sold to Harman International Inc in 1988.

Phil acquired the assets of Focusrite Ltd. in 1989 and rebuilt the business as Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. Focusrite Plc was formed in 2014 to take the group public on AIM. Phil served as Chief Executive Officer of Focusrite from 1989 until becoming Executive Chairman in 2012, and then Non-executive Chairman of Focusrite Plc in January 2022. 

The Focusrite Group now trades under thirteen established brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, Ampify, ADAM Audio, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Linea Research Sequential, Oberheim, Sonnox, OutBoard and TiMax and is widely recognised as a global leader in the markets it operates in.

Phil Dudderidge (OBE), Chairman of Focusrite commented:

"I am honoured, humbled and thrilled to have been awarded an OBE.  This is not just an honour for me, but is recognition of all the incredible people I have worked with over the decades, particularly our amazing team at Focusrite plc.  Everybody attached to the Company has had a lot of faith to get us to where we are today and I've had so many people thank me for the opportunities they've had with both Soundcraft and Focusrite.

"I am most proud of the fact that both companies have provided opportunities for people to develop their careers.  I am equally as grateful to all the employees, retailers, distributors and customers throughout the years. They are the ones who helped to build Focusrite to where it is today.  I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years, but particularly my family and my wife Jenny."

Phil follows in the illustrious footsteps of his father John Dudderidge who was also awarded an OBE for services to British canoeing.  John competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.  He still canoed into his 90s, though he had to switch to the Canadian style.

Tim Carroll, CEO of Focusrite added:

"Phil is a true colossus in the audio industry and he thoroughly deserves this award.  We are a passionate bunch united by a single objective: to smash through barriers and unleash boundless creativity in the world of sound.  Nobody personifies these values more than Phil.  The Group is so proud of this public recognition of all he has achieved.  Many congratulations from us all."

- Ends -

Enquiries:

Focusrite plc:
Tim Carroll (CEO)	[phone]
Sally McKone (CFO)	[phone]
Investec Bank plc (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)	[phone]
David Flin
Edward Knight
William Brinkley
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Paul Gillam
Michael Burke
Adam Telling
Belvedere Communications	[phone]
John West
Llew Angus

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.

 

END