Glen Dimplex founder and Irish philanthropist Martin Naughton dies aged 87

Martin Naughton. File picture: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

Martin Naughton, the Irish billionaire, philanthropist and founder of electrical goods firm Glen Dimplex, has died at the age of 87. 

A statement issued by his family on Saturday confirmed that he died at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle on Friday, July 3. It is understood he took ill while travelling in America with his wife.

Mr Naughton is survived by his wife Carmel and children Fiona, Neil, and Fergal and their extended family and many friends.

The Louth native, who was born in 1939, grew to become one of Ireland's most distinguished business leaders. He trained as an engineer, spending months as a student in hands-on aeronautical and mechanical engineering training, before founding the then-Glen Electric in 1973 with only seven employees.

The company acquired Dimplex in 1977 to form the Glen Dimplex Group and expanded through a number of other acquisitions. It grew into one of the largest home heating companies and domestic appliance manufacturers in the world, with a turnover of €1.5bn. 

As well as his commercial success and being co-owner of The Merrion Hotel, Mr Naughton was known for his philanthropy through his work with the Naughton Foundation. The organisation, established by Mr and Ms Naughton in 1994, offers scholarships to students who want to study science, technology, engineering and maths.

Tánaiste Simon Harris led the tributes, saying Mr Naughton "was an exceptional businessman, an incredible philanthropist and an all-round thoroughly good human being". 

"As the founder of Glen Dimplex, he built one of Ireland’s great manufacturing success stories from a small operation into a global business. In doing so he created and sustained thousands of jobs," Mr Harris said. 

Beyond his business achievements, his and his wife Carmel’s philanthropy through the Naughton Foundation and their support for education, the arts, and peace on this island left a lasting mark on Irish life.

His contribution will live on for generations and generations in our country, in his generous charitable work through the Foundation, the Naughton Scholarship, the contribution to education institutions, and of course his brilliant business legacy."

Trinity College Dublin also paid tribute, with provost Linda Doyle saying Mr Naughton's legacy at the university "will be felt for generations to come". 

The building that houses engineering, computer science, and natural science students in the university, the Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry, is named for him. 

"It's been my great honour and privilege to have known such an inspiring and generous man," said Ms Doyle.

Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said Mr Naughton was “one of Ireland’s greatest entrepreneurs whose vision, innovation and determination built a world-class Irish company with a truly global reach”.  

Mr Naughton received many awards over his life. In 2015 he was awarded a KBE by Britain's King Charles, and in 2016, he was a recipient of France’s highest national honour, the Legion d’Honneur. This was in recognition of his far-reaching philanthropy through the Naughton Foundation and his work for peace on the island of Ireland.

Pope Francis, in one of his last acts as Supreme Pontiff before his death, conferred the honour of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great upon Mr and Ms Naughton in recognition of their outstanding philanthropy in the areas of education and the arts.

His family added in a statement that "though he received countless awards and accolades over a lifetime of achievement, his greatest pride and joy was his wife Carmel and their beloved family".