Omega Diagnostics has announced that Colin King, the group’s current chief operating officer, will become chief executive. 

Andrew Shepherd has agreed to step down from the role of chief executive and from the board with immediate effect, becoming global ambassador – life president. 

Shepherd led the company through its initial public offering in September 2006, and has overseen the growth of the group since its acquisition of Genesis Diagnostics and Cambridge Nutritional Sciences in August 2007.

Andrew Shepherd, former chief executive, commented: “The last 30 years have been a real mix of excitement and challenges and some disappointments of course. It has been an absolute pleasure to experience Omega corporate life and the science that we use on a daily basis, and to create and investigate new opportunities and interactions with so many people around the world.”

Colin King, chief executive, commented: “It's a great privilege and honour to follow Andrew as chief executive of Omega after building the company over the past 30 years. Although we have some short-term challenges, I firmly believe that we can deliver our accelerated growth strategy to the benefit of all stakeholders and I will do my utmost to ensure the company's success."