Tony Timpson, who helped found what's now the listed carpet maker Cavalier Corp, has died at the age of 80.
Timpson built up the carpet maker in 1972 with Grant Biel, only retiring from the board of Cavalier in 2009. As at June 30 last year, he still held about 13 per cent of the carpet maker. He was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2010 for his services to business and the community.
He was also known for bankrolling the Independent business newspaper when it was set up in 1992 until Fairfax Media bought it in 2006.