John Harvey-Jones, former ICI chairman and hugely successful businessman, has passed away aged 83.
His agent confirmed that the industrialist had died peacefully in his sleep after a long period of illness.
Harvey-Jones transformed the struggling chemicals firm ICI during his 5 years as chairman of the company, turning it from a loss making business into the first British company to achieve over £1 billion in annual pre-tax profit. He is also famed for his 1990s television show Troubleshooter, in which he applied his expertise and management abilities to other struggling businesses.
CBI chief Richard Lambert described Harvey-Jones as having “brought the world of business to millions in an accessible way” through his BBC show, and drew attention to the “sense of adventure and dynamism” he brought to the “bureaucracy of ICI.”
“Although I personally never worked with John Harvey-Jones, he was a legend within ICI, and held in very high esteem by everyone at the company. It is very sad news,” explained ICI chief executive John McAdam.
