Martin Naughton, president and founder of the Glen Dimplex Group, has been awarded an honorary knighthood, presented to him by HRH the Prince of Wales.
The Dundalk-born businessman has been recognised for services to art, philanthropic causes and the Northern Ireland economy.
Sir Martin Naughton, KBE, founded Glen Electric in Northern Ireland and began trading as a manufacturer of oil-filled radiators in 1973. Less than five years later the organisation embarked on rapid expansion with the acquisition of British based Dimplex, the UK’s market leader in electric heating thus creating the Glen Dimplex Group.
Today the Glen Dimplex group is the world’s largest manufacturer of electrical heating, whilst also holding significant global market positions in domestic appliances, cooling and ventilation. It is Ireland’s largest privately-owned manufacturing business and employs over 8,500 people worldwide with an annual turnover in excess of €1.5bn.
The group features a diverse dynamic portfolio of brands in the UK including Dimplex, Creda,Valor, Robinson Willey, Redring, Xpelair, Morphy Richards, Roberts Radio, Lec, Stoves, New World, Britannia and Belling cookers. Numerous other brands occupy market leading positions throughout the world.