Popular Derek will be sadly missed

DEREK Haynes, one of the most colourful characters of the Oldham business scene in the last 20 years, has died.

After a long and distinguished career at the Daily Mirror, helping establish the Mirror Colour Print business in the former Ferranti works in Hollinwood, Derek, from Stalybridge, joined Ribble Packaging Ltd as part of a management buy-out team in November, 1995, and became managing director .

He was instrumental in developing and implementing a survival strategy of the specialist corrugated packaging manufacturer, in Greengate Street, in the early years and successfully guided Ribble through a particularly difficult period.

Having established a solid financial platform, Derek proceeded to roll out a strategy which embodied his own personal view that businesses were run by people.

As such, it was people, both inside and outside the business, who received the greatest amount of investment in terms of his own time and attention.

This simple strategy proved highly successful and ultimately facilitated another change of ownership in July, 2004, which secured Ribble’s long-term future and Derek’s own well- deserved retirement.

He retained his involvement with Ribble after his retirement as a non-executive director until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Steve Rector, the current managing director, said: “To a very large extent, all current employees at Ribble owe their livelihoods to Derek’s exceptional skills and abilities.

“He will be greatly missed by all his friends and colleagues.”

The funeral is due to be held at St Mary’s Church, Church Street, Droylsden, tomorrow at 10.30am.

Family flowers only are requested with donations to either Christie’s or Macmillan Nurses.