The founder of Inspecs, a British eyewear manufacturer known for serving high-profile clients such as Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, is set to resign as chairman after nearly 40 years at the helm.

Robin Totterman, who has a background in investment banking, conceptualized Inspecs in 1988 after struggling to find glasses that suited his taste. He later collaborated with designer Jean-Paul Gaultier to produce eyewear collections that embraced a Scandinavian influence in fashion.

In 2011, Inspecs acquired the Algha Works located in London’s East End, famous for its bespoke rolled-gold frames, worn by icons including John Lennon and characters like Harry Potter.

At age 64, Totterman holds the largest share in the company with an 18.3 percent stake, as Inspecs is currently valued at just over £50 million.

Based in Bath, the company designs its own eyewear while also creating products for brands such as Radley, Superdry, Ted Baker, and Lulu Guinness, in addition to manufacturing for Specsavers. Inspecs operates a distribution network that spans more than 80 countries, with production facilities located in Vietnam, China, Italy, and the UK.

Totterman indicated that the board is making “good progress” in finding a successor and anticipates making an announcement by the end of next month.

This transition occurs shortly after investment managers from Downing, the third-largest shareholder, suggested a vote to replace Totterman with Rocco Benetton from the renowned Benetton family, a proposal that Inspecs’ board unanimously dismissed.

While announcing his departure, Totterman highlighted concerns regarding the impact of President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on sales, which have lagged behind the previous year’s figures as of the end of May.

The Aim-listed company, which went public in February 2020 at a share price of 195p, expects its full-year revenues to remain relatively stable compared to 2024, when it reported £198.3 million.

“Despite facing challenges since the beginning of the year, the group is dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency and implementing significant cost-saving measures, which are projected to intensify in the latter half of the year to address these challenges,” Totterman remarked.

Inspecs’ shares have decreased by more than a third in value compared to last year, closing at 49p after a decline of 5p or 9.2 percent on Tuesday.