Charles Harrison, founder and managing director of CAT Enterprises, died suddenly on Tuesday July 19 after suffering a heart attack. He was 55.
Mr Harrison spent many years in the housewares industry as sales director and later managing director of the microwave cookware specialist Microwise. He left in 2002, and the following year set up CAT Enterprises as a competitor to Microwise, subsequently branching out into product sectors like pest control.
He was briefly a director of BHETA (then known as BHHMA) in 1998-99), and made a spirited but unsuccessful attempt to rejoin the board last year when he stood for election not only as a director but also as president.
"I'm going to miss him terribly," said a colleague in the industry. "He was cantankerous, awkward - and wonderful."
No funeral details have yet been confirmed; as and when they are available they will be published on housewareslive and diyweek.net.