Friends and associates of Cavalier Carpets co founder Tony Timpson say he was a trustworthy, generous man who helped build a small company into a $200 million export business.
Mr Timpson has died in Auckland, aged 80.
He started Cavalier Bremworth with Grant Biel in 1972, taking it public in the early 1980s, and serving on its board until 2009.
The partners started from an initial investment of $40,000 and split their roles in the business.
Mr Biel said he handled manufacturing while Mr Timpson, a trained accountant, took charge of sales and marketing. The commercial scene was fairly regimented at that time, with import licensing and strict controls in many areas.
"Back in those days it was very patriotic to be an exporter, and Tony picked that up and he ran with it."
Mr Biel said Mr Timpson's skills as an able sportsman helped him keep calm and logical in business.
Jenni McManus, who co-founded The Independent business newspaper, said Mr Timpson was very supportive and readily financed the investigative publication 21 years ago.
"He always backed us, every step of the way."
She said the newspaper broke the Winebox stories at the end of 1992, and Tony was "very staunch", backing The Independent's pursuit of the story in spite of huge opposition from the business community and the legal fraternity.
"Tony said no, this is unethically wrong, it's morally wrong that these people have behaved like that - I don't care what happens, we're going to pursue this story if you want to pursue it."
In 2010 Mr Timpson was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
