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obituary

Swedish financier Peter Wallenberg dies at 88

January 20, 2015

Peter Wallenberg, the Swedish financier who helmed one of Europe’s largest corporate dynasties for 15 years, has died at the age of 88 in Stockholm County.

Peter Wallenberg, the Swedish financier who helmed one of Europe’s largest corporate dynasties for 15 years, has died at the age of 88 in Stockholm County.

The elder statesman took over the Wallenberg family business following the death of his father in 1982 – a move that many believed would bring about the end of the family’s century-long dominance of the Swedish banking and industrial sectors.

Billionaire shoe retailer Heinz-Horst Deichmann dies, aged 88

October 8, 2014

The billionaire founder of Europe’s largest shoe retailer, Heinz-Horst Deichmann, has died in Essen, Germany, at the age of 88.

The billionaire founder of Europe’s largest shoe retailer, Heinz-Horst Deichmann, has died in Essen, Germany, at the age of 88.

A keen philanthropist who had an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion (€3.3 billion), Deichmann transformed his father’s cobblers business into the best-known footwear seller on in Europe, with estimated sales of $6 billion in 2013.

El Corte Inglés chairman dies, aged 79

September 15, 2014

Isidoro Alvarez, the man who turned his uncle’s small tailoring service into a retail empire, has died at the age of 79 in Madrid.

Isidoro Alvarez, the man who turned his uncle’s small tailoring service into a retail empire, has died at the age of 79 in Madrid.

The second-gen entrepreneur, who inherited 15% of El Corte Inglés from his uncle, was rushed to hospital last week after complaining of breathing difficulties and died early on Sunday morning from a subsequent heart attack.

Founder of Canadian media giant Henri Audet dies

November 7, 2012

Henri Audet, the founder of Canadian media giant Cogeco, died on 3 November aged 94.

The family business, which is the country’s fourth-largest cable television provider, said in a statement that ownership of the group will remain with the founding family.

Audet, who studied to become an electric engineer, started his career in Canadian Broadcast Corporation, a publicly owned radio and television group, in 1945.

McCain Foods founder dies

May 16, 2011

Wallace McCain, co-founder of Canadian frozen food empire McCain Foods and chairman of Maple Leaf Foods, died on 13 May aged 81.

McCain died after a long battle with cancer and is survived by his wife, four children and nine grandchildren.

McCain founded the eponymous family business along with his brother Harrison in New Brunswick, Canada in 1956. In its first year, the company had sales of around $150,000, and in the 1960s it started offering its frozen potato products to consumers outside Canada.

Dutch grocer and innovator passes away

January 24, 2011

Albert Heijn, the man responsible for turning his family’s Dutch grocery chain into the international retailing giant Royal Ahold, passed away on 13 January aged 83.

Albert Heijn, the man responsible for turning his family's Dutch grocery chain into the international retailing giant Royal Ahold, passed away on 13 January aged 83.

Heijn joined the family business in 1949 as a salesman, working his way up to become chief executive in 1962. The family business traces its roots back to 1887 when Heijn's grandfather started a grocery store in the Netherlands. Today, Ahold is among the biggest retail chains in the country with more than 800 outlets, and owns more than 3,000 supermarkets world-wide.

Family business obituaries 2010

December 15, 2010

As with any year, deaths in the family happen and in the world of family businesses there were some prominent ones. Campden FB lists them and looks at their achievements.

As with any year, deaths in the family happen and in the world of family businesses there were some prominent ones. Campden FB lists them and looks at their achievements.

Top family business advisor dies

August 19, 2010

Cindy Iannarelli, a renowned family business adviser, has been murdered.

Her throat had been "slit by a sharp object" while on holiday at a resort in India last Friday, according to the Times of India who quoted a local police superintendent.

Her 15-year-old son Joncarlo is the prime suspect in her death, police said.

Iannarelli, whose brother runs a dry cleaning business founded by her father, had spent many years helping families to use their companies to raise their children.

Swiss-German industrialist dies

August 12, 2010

Markus Liebherr, scion of the Swiss-based German industrial dynasty Liebherr, has died unexpectedly at the age of 62.

His death was first announced by Southampton FC, the English football club of which he was owner. A statement said: "It is with deep regret and great sadness that the Club has to report that Markus Liebherr has passed away. His passing will come as an enormous shock to everyone."

Secretive supermarket billionaire dies

July 29, 2010

Theo Albrecht, the highly secretive co-founder of discount retailer Aldi, died on Saturday at 88.

Aldi Nord, the company he headed for half a century, said in a statement that he had died in his hometown of Essen, Germany, but did not give the cause of death.