Thomas Bata (pictured), owner of the family-owned Bata Shoe Organization, has died aged 93 in Toronto, Canada, where the business is based.
BSO is one of the world's leading footwear retailers and manufacturers with operations across five continents. It produces millions of its own-brand of shoes in facilities located around the world.
The company operates 5,000 retail stores, employs more than 40,000 people and serves one million customers per day. It had revenues of nearly $200 million last year.
