Sir David McMurtry pictured at an awards event. He is smiling at the camera and has short grey hair and round frameless glasses. He wears a dark shirt and a grey suit jacket.Getty Images
Dave Harvey
Business Correspondent, BBC West
Renishaw, the global engineering firm headquartered in Gloucestershire, has announced that its co-founder, Sir David McMurtry has died, aged 84.
Sir David started the company in April 1973, originally to develop a precision measuring tool for use on the Concorde supersonic jet.
Today, the company employs more than 3,200 people in Gloucestershire, and another 2,000 worldwide.
Renishaw's high-precision measuring systems are used by companies that make aircraft and high tech bikes, medical and dental equipment and countless other products.
Sir David is on the left of the picture, wearing a striped shirt and grey suit jacket. John Deer is on the right, in a light striped shirt and a blue sweater vest.Renishaw
"It is with profound sadness that the company has learnt of the sudden death of its co-founder and non-executive director, Sir David McMurtry," a Renishaw spokesperson said.
Sir David co-founded the firm with John Deer in New Mills, near Wotton-under-Edge, where the firm is still based.
They now have four other sites in Gloucestershire, at Charfield, Old Town (in Wotton), Stonehouse and Woodchester.
Until earlier this year, Sir David was executive chairman of the group. He stepped down in June but remained on the board, taking an active interest in the company's innovation and technology.
Speaking on behalf of the board, 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."
Related topics
Renishaw
Engineering
Gloucestershire