He stepped down from the DRS board at the company’s annual general meeting in May.
Sir David Brown was appointed as the company’s new non-executive chairman and will also serve as chairman of the nominations committee.
Mr Brighton (pictured) founded DRS in 1969 and led the company’s development as managing director until 2001, when he became chairman. It moved from London to Milton Keynes in 1975 and into purpose-built headquarters at Linford Wood ten years later.
He said: “ leave the post with a great deal of pride in the progress that DRS has made in recent years and with complete confidence in the further progress it will make under my successor.”
Mr Brighton also paid tribute to the company’s 200 staff, most of whom are based at DRS’ sites in Linford Wood and Kiln Farm. “I believe we now have the strongest management team in the entire history of DRS with a world-leading reputation,” he said.
DRA Data & Research Services plc is recognised as a world leader in electronic data scanning and related systems and software and works with educational, governmental and commercial clients all over the world.
DRS chief executive officer Tony Lee said: “Malcolm has played a major part in its growth to becoming a world leader in data capture.”
Mr Brighton has been replaced as chairman by Sir David Brown, who chaired Motorola’s UK company for nearly 12 years, is currently senior independent director of Ceres Power Holdings plc and a non-executive director of Domino Printing Sciences plc. He was knighted in 2001 for services to British industry.
