Directorate Change

Appointment of Ben Stocks as Non-Executive Chairman designate

21 October 2026 - SDI Group plc, the buy and build group, focused on companies which design and manufacture specialist lab equipment, industrial & scientific sensors and industrial & scientific products, announces that Non-Executive Chairman, Ken Ford, will be stepping down from his role, having been with the Company since 2010, and serving as Chairman since 2012.

Ben Stocks will be appointed independent Non-Executive Chairman designate, joining the Board of the Company on 1 November 2026. Ken will continue in his role until 25 November 2026, working with Ben to facilitate an orderly handover. Ben will assume the role of Chairman from 25 November 2026, upon Ken's departure.

Ben is a highly experienced industrial and technology sector executive, bringing over 35 years' highly relevant experience in management and leadership positions. Most recently, he served as Non-Executive Chairman of Xaar plc, and prior to this as Chief Executive Officer of Porvair plc (1998-2025), specialising in filtration, laboratory and environmental technologies.

During his tenure at Porvair, Ben was instrumental in the transformation from a UK-focused materials company into a global specialist filtration company with operations across the USA, UK, Europe and Asia. Over the 20 years to 2025, Porvair increased adjusted operating profit at a compound average growth rate of 13%; expanding to 17 manufacturing facilities and over 1,100 staff. Ben previously held senior management positions with Carnaud Metalbox and Courtaulds plc. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and MA (Hons) from The University of St Andrews.

On assuming the role of Chair, Ben will also Chair the Nomination Committee.

Stephen Brown, Chief Executive Officer of SDI, commented:

"On behalf of the Board, the executive team, and everyone at SDI Group, I want to express our sincere thanks to Ken for his extraordinary leadership and dedication over the past sixteen years. When Ken took on the role of Chairman, he set the Company on a transformative path, being instrumental to the highly successful buy-and-build compounding model we operate today. He leaves SDI Group in an exceptionally strong position for our next phase of growth, we are hugely appreciative of the value he has brought to the Board over the years, and he departs with our deepest thanks and best wishes for his future endeavours.

"I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Ben, a highly respected executive whose experience and leadership will be enormously valuable as we continue to build on SDI's foundations for the next stage of its growth."

Ken Ford, Chairman of SDI, commented:

"Serving on the Board and chairing SDI Group has been a tremendous journey. When we set out on our buy-and-build strategy sixteen years ago, our ambition was to create a compounding group of high-quality specialist businesses, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. Having worked closely with Stephen and the management team over the past three years, I have total confidence in his vision and their ability to take the Group forward. SDI leaves my tenure in robust health, with strong foundations for future growth. Ben brings a wealth of highly relevant experience and I look forward to seeing further progress from SDI as I offer my continued support as a shareholder."

Ben Stocks, incoming Non-Executive Chairman designate, commented:

"I look forward to joining SDI and working with the team and building on the groundwork completed over the last few years, as the Group continues to evolve."