New Year’s Honour for Focusrite’s Phil Dudderidge
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An OBE is awarded for having played a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally in their chosen area. In Phil’s case this commendation is in recognition of the 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 sound engineer in 1970. He set up RSD Systems in a partnership of three in 1971, building bespoke PA systems with custom-built mixing consoles. This evolved into Soundcraft Electronics a company specialising in live and studio mixing consoles, which was sold to Harman International in 1988.
Phil acquired the assets of Focusrite in 1989 and rebuilt the business as Focusrite Audio Engineering. 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 has grown to include 13 brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, Ampify, ADAM Audio, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Linea Research Sequential, Oberheim, Sonnox, OutBoard and TiMax.
Phil Dudderidge 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 the Focusrite Group. 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.”
