Phase Focus boards up

Phase Focus, a UK based microscopy and imaging firm spun-out from Sheffield University in 2006, has announced changes to its board of directors.

Tech entrepreneur Paul Atherton will become chairman, bringing with him the experience of chairing five other tech firms. Two of these firms, C2V and Midaz Lasers, have gone on to be acquired by lab equipment company Thermo Fisher and laser tech firm Coherent, respectively. Paul also sits on the board of Imperial College London’s tech transfer unit Imperial Innovations and was involved in its £200m ($317m) floatation on the Alternative Investment Market.

Joining Paul as non-executive director will be Charles Holroyd, who for the past three years has been group business development director of Oxford Instruments, one of the most recognisable spin-outs from the University of Oxford.

They replace outgoing chairman David Baynes, chief executive of commercialisation firm Fusion IP (which manages Sheffield’s technology transfer), and Neil Loxley, who is resigning as non-executive director after five years with Phase to take up a chief executive position at Ibex Innovations.

Also in the staff changes at Phase, Martin Humphry, the inventor behind many of Phase Focus’ patent applications who has been with the firm since 2009, will become chief technology officer.

Ian Pykett, chief executive of Phasefocus, said: “Paul and Charles bring tremendous experience in highly relevant markets, and in growing and realising value from venture capital-backed hightechnology businesses. That we have been successful in attracting their world-class skills and experience is testament not only to the success that we have achieved to date, but also to the vision that they share with us of a potentially very bright future for Phasefocus. I am equally pleased that we will continue to benefit not only from Martin’s considerable technical knowledge, but also from the strategic insights and business development instincts that he brings to the board.