GetBusy Names Paul Huberman as Chairman as Dr Miles Jakeman Steps Down After Nine Years

Paul Huberman Takes Chairmanship with Extensive Financial Services Expertise

Paul Huberman has been named chairman of GetBusy plc, succeeding Dr Miles Jakeman AM with immediate effect. Huberman brings deep financial services experience, having been finance director at Asda Property Holdings plc, Regent Inns plc, and Grantchester Holdings plc, all listed on the London Stock Exchange. As a chartered accountant and tax adviser, he has led finance functions in major retail and hospitality companies.

Joining GetBusy’s board in 2020, Huberman has served as non-executive director and audit committee chairman, gaining thorough insight into the company’s governance and strategy. He also holds a non-executive director role at Town Centre Securities plc and directorships in private firms. Huberman expressed enthusiasm about leading the board, highlighting the Group’s clear strategy and committed team, and aims to drive significant cash returns to shareholders in the medium term.

Dr Miles Jakeman Concludes Nine-Year Chairmanship Marked by Strategic Growth

Dr Miles Jakeman AM is stepping down as chairman and director after nine years, during which he guided GetBusy through its 2017 IPO and strategic transformation. Under his leadership, the company transitioned to a focused SaaS and AI business model, enhanced governance, and created substantial long-term shareholder value.

Reflecting on his tenure, Dr Jakeman noted it was a privilege to lead the company through its IPO and growth phases. He emphasized that the Group’s shift toward value realisation makes this an appropriate time for leadership change. He also highlighted Huberman’s UK base as advantageous for close collaboration with executives and advisers as the company pursues future opportunities.

Nigel Payne Returns as Audit Committee Chairman

Following Huberman’s appointment as chairman, Nigel Payne has resumed the role of audit committee chairman. A chartered accountant and independent non-executive director, Payne previously chaired the audit committee from 2017 to 2020. His return ensures continuity in audit oversight and governance expertise during this leadership transition.

Payne’s reappointment underscores the board’s commitment to maintaining strong financial and compliance oversight, ensuring seamless audit committee operations amid the chairman change.

GetBusy’s SaaS Platforms Drive Document Workflow Automation

GetBusy delivers specialist document workflow software tailored for professional and financial services sectors. Its platforms secure and automate workflows for over 1.3 billion unique, high-value documents, highlighting the scale and critical role of its solutions.

The company’s two main products are SmartVault, a rapidly growing US tax platform focused on near-term revenue, and Workiro, a content and collaboration solution designed for professional services and cloud ERP systems, aimed at long-term value creation. Both incorporate AI and are integral to customers’ daily workflows, serving more than 60,000 paying users globally.

Positioned as a Trusted SaaS Provider for Regulated Professionals

GetBusy is recognized as a leading provider of trusted AI-enabled SaaS platforms for regulated professionals, emphasizing compliance, security, and regulatory adherence. Its document workflow solutions cater to professional and financial services markets where secure document management and audit trails are essential.

While the announcement provides limited market specifics, Paul Huberman referenced "buoyant and resilient markets," indicating confidence in sustained demand for GetBusy’s automation and compliance offerings. The company’s strategy prioritizes medium-term cash returns to shareholders, reflecting confidence in its business resilience and cash generation.

Focus on Value Realisation and Delivering Cash Returns

The leadership change coincides with GetBusy’s shift from growth and IPO phases toward executing a value realisation strategy. Dr Jakeman highlighted that this transition makes the timing right to hand over chairmanship to Huberman, signaling a strategic focus on shareholder returns.

Both outgoing and incoming chairmen, along with CEO Daniel Rabie, emphasized the commitment to generating significant cash returns for shareholders in the medium term. Huberman aims to lead the board in delivering these returns, while Rabie supports the clear strategy to achieve material shareholder cash distributions.

CEO Daniel Rabie Endorses Leadership Transition and Business Strength

GetBusy CEO Daniel Rabie praised Dr Jakeman’s leadership since the 2017 IPO, noting his sound judgment, independence, and mentorship. Rabie affirmed that Jakeman leaves the company financially strong with promising strategic prospects.

Rabie expressed strong support for Huberman’s appointment, highlighting his deep business understanding, intellectual rigor, extensive experience, and pragmatic approach developed over four years on the board. Rabie looks forward to collaborating closely with Huberman to execute the company’s strategy focused on value realisation and shareholder returns.

Governance Structure Maintains Independent Leadership and Expertise

The directorate changes reflect GetBusy’s governance approach, with Huberman advancing from non-executive director and audit committee chairman to full chairman, ensuring continuity in independent leadership. Nigel Payne’s return as audit committee chairman reinforces experienced oversight of audit and risk.

The board balances executive leadership by CEO Daniel Rabie with independent non-executive roles for chairman and audit committee chair, aligning with UK AIM governance best practices. Both Huberman and Payne hold chartered accountant qualifications, providing strong financial expertise to support compliance and reporting responsibilities. Retaining Huberman on the board during the transition facilitates knowledge transfer and governance stability.

Immediate Effect of Leadership Change and Investor Outlook

The leadership changes took effect immediately on 17 July 2026, indicating prior transition planning. This swift implementation suggests readiness to proceed without interim arrangements.

Market reaction to the announcement was not immediately evident. Investors may monitor trading activity and analyst commentary closely. Huberman’s extensive board experience and finance background may reassure investors seeking continuity and strong governance. Conversely, Dr Jakeman’s departure after nearly a decade may prompt scrutiny of leadership stability and strategic direction. The emphasis on delivering medium-term cash returns may attract investor interest regarding future capital allocation.