Board Succession

26 November 2025

Judges Scientific plc

("Judges Scientific", "Judges", "Group" or the "Company")

Board Succession

Judges Scientific, the group focused on acquiring and developing companies in the scientific instrument sector, announces the following in relation to Board succession.

Summary of changes with effect from 9th February 2026:

David Cicurel, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Judges Scientific plc, has advised the Board of his intention to step back from his role as Chief Executive Officer on 9th February 2026. Since founding Judges more than 20 years ago, David has created and developed a decentralised group of high-quality businesses focussed on generating increasing profits, high cash conversion, and high returns on total invested capital. Over these two decades the Group has delivered significant value for shareholders through earnings per share growth and ever-increasing dividend returns. Importantly, the Group retains an unparalleled reputation for its honest and ethical approach in all business dealings, and as an excellent home and custodian for its growing portfolio of niche scientific businesses. 

The Board is delighted to announce that Dr Tim Prestidge, Group Business Development Director, will succeed David as Chief Executive Officer. Tim joined Judges in February 2023, having previously held senior leadership roles at Halma plc, where he was Divisional CEO responsible for portfolios of technology companies based in the UK, Europe, USA, and China, and Renishaw, where he was Divisional CEO and an executive committee member. Since joining Judges, Tim has held responsibility for various portfolios of the Group's businesses, building on an outstanding reputation for encouraging ambition and innovation and helping scientific businesses to achieve their potential. He has also greatly contributed to the development and functioning of the Group as a whole.

The Board's proposal for David to step up into the role of Non-Executive Chair was confirmed following consultation with a number of the Group's largest shareholders. Ralph Elman, the Group's current Non-Executive Chair, will become Non-Executive Deputy Chair. David will also remain actively engaged in the Group's acquisition processes, continuing to contribute his decades of deal-making experience, and ensuring a seamless pursuit of Judges' long-term business model and acquisition strategy. There are no changes to the composition of any Board Committee at this point.

David Cicurel, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The orchestration of succession is not a short-term activity, and the time to implement a transition is when one has the confidence that the new leadership generation is in place, has the required competence to deliver growth in shareholder value, and has internalised the Judges values which have made our Group successful. Whilst choosing the perfect timing is never easy, particularly given the present trading environment and the Company's recent results, we have been preparing for this transition for several years, and I am delighted that Tim will be taking over the reins. Tim is highly intelligent, focused, hardworking, and has invaluable experience in our sector. I firmly believe that he is the right person to lead Judges going forward.

With Tim, Brad Ormsby, Ian Wilcock, and the appointments of Rik Armitage, as Group Acquisitions Executive, and John Dunne, who has recently joined from Halma as a Portfolio Chief Executive, Judges is equipped with a top-quality leadership team for the future. I have every confidence that the long-term drivers of the Group's ability to deliver value for its shareholders are intact and unaffected by recent turbulence, and I look forward to supporting the Group's progress over the coming years."

Tim Prestidge, Chief Executive Officer designate, commented: "David has founded and built an extraordinary Group, predicated on the basis that long-term value creation and exceptional returns for shareholders can be delivered within a framework of the utmost honesty and integrity in our dealings with all stakeholders. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead and continue this legacy. With the strength of the leadership team around me and throughout the Group's businesses, the resilience of our long-term drivers, and our commitment to the fundamentals of Judges' strategy, I have every confidence in the Group's continued success."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.

For further information please contact: 

Notes to editors:

Judges Scientific plc (AIM: JDG), is a group focused on acquiring and developing companies in the scientific instrument sector. The Group consists of 25 businesses acquired since 2005.

The acquired companies are primarily UK-based with products sold worldwide to a diverse range of markets including higher education institutions, scientific research facilities, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities. The UK is a recognised centre of excellence for scientific instruments. The Group has received five Queen's Awards for Innovation and Export.

The Group's companies predominantly operate in global niche markets, with long term growth fundamentals and resilient margins.

Judges Scientific maintains a policy of selectively acquiring businesses that generate sustainable profits and cash. Shareholder returns are created through the reduction of debt, organic growth, and dividends.

For further information, please visit www.judges.uk.com