Simon Dutfield, Chairman of Axminster Carpets, Dies

Axminster, UK, April 19, 2016—Chairman of Axminster Carpets Simon Dutfield died on April 14, as the result of a heart attack, according to the Midweek Herald.

Dutfield followed in his father Harry’s footsteps into the family business, holding positions of works manager and managing director, then taking over the chairmanship of the company when father died in 1999.

He built the company from having a turnover of £5 million to £30 million with more than 1,000 staff. But the firm was hit hard by the recession and a slump in carpet manufacturing and went into administration in 2013.

A new company emerged to retain Axminster’s long association with carpet manufacturing with the Dutfield family retaining an interest through son Josh, who succeeded his father as managing director when Dutfield senior became chairman.