Former Autonomy executive dies in road accident
The family of Stephen Chamberlain, former vice president of finance at Autonomy, has confirmed his passing after a tragic road accident took place in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning. Chamberlain was a co-defendant in a US fraud trial alongside British tech tycoon, Mike Lynch. He had been facing charges of fraud and conspiracy in relation to the sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
Chamberlain’s family released a statement through Cambridgeshire Constabulary, paying tribute to him as a “much-loved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.” They described him as an incredible individual who always strived to help others and left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. The family expressed their deep sorrow at his passing and stated that he will be forever missed but remembered in the hearts of his loved ones.
Chamberlain and Lynch were both acquitted of all charges in the US fraud trial in June. However, Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, confirmed his death on Monday, stating that he had been “fatally struck” by a car while out running near Stretham. Cambridgeshire police have appealed for witnesses and information regarding the accident. The driver of the car involved in the collision is assisting with enquiries.
Meanwhile, the search for Lynch is ongoing after a superyacht he owned sank off the coast of Sicily. The yacht, named Bayesian, was struck by a violent storm in the early hours of Monday, resulting in one death and several missing individuals, including Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 people rescued from the sinking yacht.
Chamberlain had worked at Autonomy until 2012 and then went on to become the chief operating officer for cybersecurity firm Darktrace, a company founded by Invoke Capital, owned by Lynch. He was also a volunteer finance director for Cambridge United, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The sale of Autonomy was the largest tech takeover of a FTSE 100 firm at the time. However, HP wrote down £5.5bn of the company’s value within a year, alleging that revenue streams had been inflated. The investigation into the sale is ongoing.
