Martin Naughton, the Irish entrepreneur who founded the Glen Dimplex Group and became one of the country’s most prominent philanthropists, has died at the age of 87.
In a statement, his family said Naughton became ill while travelling in the United States with his wife, Carmel. He died shortly afterward at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Born in County Louth, Naughton established Glen Electric in Newry in 1973 before acquiring Dimplex four years later, creating the Glen Dimplex Group. Under his leadership, the company grew into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electrical heating and household appliances. He stepped down as president of the company in 2016 after decades of expansion that transformed the business into a global enterprise.
Alongside his achievements in industry, Naughton earned widespread recognition for his charitable work through the Naughton Foundation, which has supported education, scientific research, the arts and community initiatives across Ireland for many years.
His contributions received international recognition. He was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by the then King Charles III and was awarded France’s highest civilian distinction, the Legion of Honour, in recognition of his philanthropy and efforts to promote peace on the island of Ireland.
Naughton and his wife Carmel were also honoured by Pope Francis with the Order of Saint Gregory the Great for their charitable work, particularly their support for education and the arts.
Tributes have poured in from across Ireland following news of his death.
Verona Murphy described Naughton as not only a successful entrepreneur but also a compassionate citizen whose influence extended well beyond business. She said he represented the Irish success story, building a globally respected company while creating opportunities for countless young people through his commitment to education.
Danny McCoy, chief executive of Ibec, praised Naughton as one of Ireland’s greatest entrepreneurs, saying he demonstrated that an Irish manufacturing company could compete successfully on the international stage through innovation and determination.
Trinity College Dublin also paid tribute, describing Naughton as a firm believer in the power of education and research to improve society. The university noted that his investments in students and academic programmes would continue to benefit future generations.
Provost Linda Doyle said Naughton’s legacy at the university would be felt for many years through the opportunities created by his generosity.
Naughton’s career made him one of Ireland’s most respected business leaders, while his philanthropic work left a lasting impact on education, research and community development both at home and abroad.
