Former Waterford Stanley chief Michael Laffan dies

Well-known businessman Michael Laffan died suddenly this week. Mr Laffan will primarily be remembered for his involvement in cooker and stove manufacturer Waterford Stanley, which he and his colleague Gerry Currid took over in a management buyout in 2000. Mr Laffan sold the business five years later to British rival Aga for €13.8 million.

An economics graduate of the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, Mr Laffan enjoyed a varied career, beginning with a spell working for the European Commission in the early 1970s.

He then returned home to work for State agency, Shannon Development, before moving on to set up kitchen appliance-maker Electrolux's Irish subsidiary in the 1980s.

After a brief stint with the old Century Radio, he joined Thorn EMI to run the stereo and TV manufacturer’s business in the Benelux countries. He subsequently joined Waterford Stanley.

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Mr Laffan is survived by his wife, Brigid Laffan, emeritus professor at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute.

Prof Laffan informed friends and family via social media on Friday that the couple had been for their daily swim on Wednesday, but unfortunately Mr Laffan did not make it home.