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David Lye, “a living embodiment of old-school business principles based on relationships, trust and a handshake” |
UK. With great sadness we report the passing of David Lye, a great stalwart of the duty free and drinks industries.
He passed away on 6 June after suffering from cancer in recent months.
David was one of duty free’s great characters. He spent many years with Distillers (now Diageo), particularly with Haig whisky, which he represented with dedication, passion and constant good humour.
Later he would set up his own agency business, scoring huge success in UK and European duty free with Prince Hubert de Polignac, in particular.
David was also a founding member of a gathering of well-known duty free industry executives, collectively known as the Gentlemen of Gatwick Association (GOGA). Similarly he helped found NAFS (Norwich Airport Favoured Suppliers).
The Moodie Report joins with many others in sending our deepest condolences to David’s family.
Martin Moodie writes: David Lye was a truly irrepressible character, a living embodiment of old-school business principles based on relationships, trust and a handshake. He was great fun while being an outstanding ambassador and salesman for the brands he represented and much admired by his retail clients for his firm but fair attitude to negotiations. With his success with Polignac, in particular, David showed that he could perform just as well as an independent as he had with a multi-national. He enjoyed that fact very much.
Over many, many lunches (most of which ended in a pleasant haze), I learned much from this man. The annual bowls match between DFNI (my then company) and GOGA was a particular pleasure for me and my team back in the 1990s. I, along with many others, will miss David.
May he rest in peace.
