Overview
- His family confirmed Saturday that he fell ill while travelling in the United States with his wife Carmel and died a short time later at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle.
- Naughton founded Glen Electric in Newry in 1973 and acquired Dimplex four years later to create the Glen Dimplex Group, which grew into a global company operating in about 20 countries and employing thousands.
- He stepped down as president of Glen Dimplex in 2016 after decades building the business from an engineer’s workshop into a major Irish manufacturer.
- Through the Naughton Foundation he funded scholarships and cultural projects, earning honours including a KBE, France’s Legion d’Honneur and the papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great.
- He is survived by his wife Carmel and children Fiona, Neil and Fergal, and initial public tributes from business leaders have highlighted his role in promoting Irish manufacturing and cross-border trade.