Cooke Optics welcomes New CEO and Non-Executive Chairman

26 October 2020

Caledonia Private Capital backed Cooke Optics is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Pugh as CEO and Kees van Oostrum as Non-Executive Chairman, effective 31 October 2020. Cooke’s current Chairman, Les Zellan, will be stepping down from the Company, and CEO, Robert Howard, is retiring.

Cooke, a 126-year old British lens manufacturer, is among the oldest lens brands to have continuously served the motion picture industry. Cooke’s reputation at the forefront of lens design is founded on beautiful cinematic images, as defined by the ‘Cooke look’. Cooke’s brand, presence and ongoing investment in innovation will drive growth into established international markets, new territories, and market adjacencies, satisfying demand for high-quality content as well as cost-effective production.

Tim brings a wealth of leadership experience across premium manufacturing and distribution businesses, providing technical products to specialist markets via strong international partner networks. He has held key roles at Scania, RAC and most recently as CEO of James Briggs Ltd, a leading manufacturer of technical products, where he grew the business substantially through a focus on long-term customer relationships, market-leading quality and manufacturing excellence.

Kees van Oostrum, currently a Cooke Optics board member, is an award-winning cinematographer and held the position of President of the American Society of Cinematographers from 2016-2020 during which time the organisation broadened its activities significantly.

Duncan Johnson, Head of Caledonia Private Capital commented: “I am delighted that Tim has joined, and that Kees has stepped-up into the Chairman role at Cooke Optics, which is an important part of the Caledonia Private Capital portfolio. Their leadership and industry experience will be valuable assets for the future success of the company as it looks to take advantage of the ongoing growth opportunities deriving from Cooke’s innovation in full-frame camera lens technology, increased demand from China, and the expansion of the digital streaming market globally.

I would also like to thank Les and Robert for their leadership in building Cooke into a globally competitive and respected leader in the film industry.”

Tim Pugh, incoming Cooke Optics CEO commented: “Both Les and Robert have achieved what some would consider miraculous during their 20 years with Cooke, which has an unrivalled reputation for excellence. Kees and I are excited to take the reins of this beloved company as we move into the next stage of Cooke’s evolution with the on-going support of Caledonia Private Capital.”

26 October 2020

For further information contact:

Caledonia Investments plc
Duncan Johnson, Head of Private Capital	+44 20 7802 8080

Media contact:

Tulchan Communications
Tom Murray	+44 20 7353 4200

END

Notes for editors:

Caledonia Investments plc

Caledonia is a self-managed investment trust company listed on the London Stock Exchange with net assets of approximately £2bn as at 30 September 2020. The company maintains a concentrated portfolio of international quoted, private capital and fund investments and has paid an increasing annual dividend for 51 years. Caledonia Private Capital is the unquoted investment arm of Caledonia.

Caledonia Private Capital seeks to invest £25m to £125m in private companies, either on a majority or minority basis, providing a meaningful presence and growth capital supporting double-digit operating margins. Its current unquoted portfolio includes Cobehold (a European unquoted investment house), Buzz Bingo (the UK market leading retail bingo operator), Liberation Group (an integrated pubs, drinks and brewing business), Seven Investment Management (a provider of discretionary fund management, asset management and self-invest platform services), Cooke Optics (the leading cinematic lens manufacturer based in Leicester), DSE (designer and manufacturer of precision engine and generator controls) and Stonehage Fleming (EMEA’s leading family office advisory and investment business).

For additional information on Caledonia Private Capital, please visit www.caledoniaprivatecapital.temp312.kinsta.cloud.

Cooke Optics, Ltd

Cooke is a storied name in both cinematographic and ultra-high-end professional photography markets. Known worldwide for their precision, exacting tolerances and superior quality, Cooke lenses are specified by many of the world’s most respected cinematographers. Cooke is also the developer behind /i Technology, the protocol enabling vital lens and camera information to be captured and passed digitally to post-production teams. Cooke was honoured with a 2013 Academy Award® of Merit (an Oscar® statuette) for its continuing innovation in the design, development and manufacture of motion picture camera lenses.

Features in production or recently shot with Cooke lenses include: Pinocchio, Onward, Toy Story 4, Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn, Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star Is Born, Venom, Call Me By Your Name, Motherless Brooklyn, Stan and Ollie, Darkest Hour, Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House.

Television shows in production or recently shot with Cooke lenses include: The Luminaries, Lost In Space, Star Trek: Picard, Peaky Blinders, Osmosis, Top Boy, Catch-22, The Perfection, Ozark, Doctor Who, Fleabag, The Crown, Westworld, Poldark, Game of Thrones, Midsomer Murders, Orange is the New Black and Fargo.