Eyewear retailer Inspecs has announced that its chief financial officer (CFO), Chris Kay, is to step away from the role.

Kay has agreed to remain with the group until a successor has been appointed so that he can provide an orderly handover.

As a result, he will not seek re-election at Inspecs’ 2025 annual general meeting on 3 June and will then step down as a director of the company on this date.

The Inspecs board has appointed an executive search firm to identify CFO candidates, and the group said its board would provide an update in due course.

Inspecs founder and chairman, Robin Totterman, commented that Kay had been a “highly valued member of the senior leadership team” and played a “pivotal role” in the group’s development and success.

“Most notably, he was instrumental in guiding Inspecs through its successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange in February 2020, just one week before the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Totterman said. “His steady leadership and financial expertise were critical during this unprecedented time.

“In addition to his work around the IPO, Chris brought significant expertise in mergers and acquisitions, supporting the group’s strategic growth through a number of key transactions. His contributions in this area have greatly helped expand Inspecs’ global footprint and capabilities.

“On behalf of the board, myself personally, and the entire team at Inspecs, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Chris for his outstanding contribution over the years. His integrity, professionalism, and deep commitment to the group have left a lasting legacy. We wish Chris the very best in his future endeavours.”

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