Business West Pays Tribute to Sir David McMurtry

Sir David McMurtry, one of the titans of Gloucestershire business, has died aged 84.

He was the co-founder of Renishaw, Gloucestershire’s largest private business which now employs 5,200 people in 36 countries including 3,400 staff at its sites in the UK-primarily here in Gloucestershire and South Wales.

The international success of Renishaw as a world leading, innovative engineering company was based on Sir David’s invention with his touch-trigger probe while working on Concorde.

That invention solved a dimensional measurement problem faced by Rolls-Royce when manufacturing the Olympus engines that powered Concorde.

Sir David Grant, Interim Non-executive Chairman, said: “David was a uniquely talented engineer and his curiosity and drive helped to create a globally respected engineering company.

“His legacy will live on through the culture of innovation he helped to create in Renishaw.”

Sir David stepped down as the company’s executive chairman in July.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE 250 Index, Renishaw has a current value of around £3 billion.

The South West industry, and beyond, will miss this pioneer.

Image credit: Renishaw