CHAIRMAN & CEO / TURNAROUND

Following the purchase of SSL from Carlton Communications by venture capital group 3i Plc, Colin returned to the group as a co-investor and CEO of SSL, and Chairman of Audio Processing Technology Ltd (APT) and SSO Systems Inc. of Washington DC.

There had been little innovation at in the intervening years and the markets had also changed. He restructured the business while simultaneously introducing new break-out products and routes to market. The music sector widely welcomed the introduction of the AWS900, a high quality analogue console that combined digital control of PC workstations like Digidesign's Pro Tools. A new digital processing platform and assignable broadcast consoles were also introduced. During this time, SSL was awarded a special technical Grammy Award.

AWARDS

In addition to businesses winning Queen’s Awards for Technology and Export, an Academy Award and a Grammy, Colin was invited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to attend a celebration of British music at Buckingham Palace. Other guests included Eric Clapton, Brian Eno, Phil Collins, Kate Bush, Robin Gibb, Brian May, Robert Plant, etc. He was later made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.

Pringle left SSL after successfully managing a trade sale to a private investment group that included musician Peter Gabriel. He subsequently worked on the public to private acquisition of a company in the energy sector, and with UHNW individuals on Private Equity investments.

Now based in Monaco, Colin spends much of his time writing and recording music.

Publications include 'The Black Book' (ISBN 0-9516522-0-6),

a collection of portraits and biographies of record producers.

                                                                                      ....Back

Colin and record producer Hugh Padgham

© Copyright 2026. Colin Pringle