Gary Favell, the former head of some of the biggest names in KBB retail, has died aged 69.
Favell joined Magnet in the early 1990s, serving as a director and later chief executive, and was part of the leadership team that oversaw the company’s growth and eventual acquisition by Swedish group Nobia in 2001.
He subsequently held senior positions at CP Hart, which was also owned by Nobia at the time, and then chief executive of MFI, where he led the business during its final years before it went into administration in 2008.
After MFI, Favell specialised in turnaround roles, including a period at Allied Carpets, before taking over as chief executive of Bathstore following its acquisition by private equity firm Endless.
He then headed a management buyout of the business in 2014 before leaving in 2018, a year before it went into administration.
Away from the KBB sector, Favell also held senior executive and board positions at companies including Wyevale Garden Centres and American Golf, and most recently at Lights4fun.
“It is with profound sadness that we must share the news of the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague Gary Favell,” a statement from Lights4fun said.
“He made a lasting impression on everyone he met. Gary was known for his warmth; he was generous with his time, and he had that rare ability to make everyone feel valued. He believed in people, he backed them, mentored them, and gave them the confidence to grow and become the best versions of themselves.”
Dean Weston, who currently leads Wolseley Group’s Plumb Centre network, also paid tribute.
“I had the absolute privilege of working with Gary for most of the last 25 years, and he was an epic mentor and close friend. His passion for people and sales was evident in every action and every conversation, and that infinite energy drove his continued success in the KBB sector and beyond.
“He had a real gift for making everyone feel important, heard and valued in all the businesses he ran, alongside always having the most energy in any room, be that the boardroom or the bar.
“Gary was the epitome of a great leader and investor in his teams, and I’ve received messages from people who worked with him 20 years ago expressing their sadness and shock. There are a lot of senior people in the industry today whom he mentored, pushed, developed and fostered, not least myself, and those beliefs definitely shape a lot of decisions across the sector to this day.
“He will definitely be missed by a lot of people, but I can attest that if ever there was one man who really lived his life to the max, it was Gary Favell, and I’m grateful to have known him.”
