Dundalk has lost one of its most influential business figures. Martin Naughton, the industrialist who founded Glen Dimplex, has died aged 87 after falling ill while travelling in the United States. He became unwell on Friday while on a trip with his wife, Carmel, and was taken to a hospital in Seattle, where he later died.
As reported by LMFM, Naughton’s family paid tribute to a lifetime of achievement. He is survived by his wife, Carmel, and their children Fiona, Neil and Fergal.
Built Glen Dimplex Into A Global Appliances Group
Naughton launched Glen Electric in 1973 before later joining forces with Dimplex to create the Glen Dimplex Group, which he expanded through a series of acquisitions. According to Glen Dimplex, the privately held company now runs 23 manufacturing plants across Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, China and the United States. What began as a small workshop grew into a multinational employer and a major name in heating and consumer appliances.
Philanthropy And Honours
Outside the boardroom, Naughton and his wife established The Naughton Foundation, which funds STEM scholarships and other educational programmes that have supported Irish students. As reported by TheJournal, he was recognised with multiple honours over his lifetime, including appointments to the Order of the British Empire and France’s Légion d’Honneur, along with a papal award in 2025. Business organisations praised both his manufacturing vision and his substantial charitable work.
Legacy And Succession
Naughton also spent seven years on Ireland’s Council of State, chaired InterTrade Ireland in the past, and sat on the advisory board of Citi Private Bank for Europe and the Middle East. Leadership at Glen Dimplex had already shifted to his son, Fergal Naughton, in a transition the company announced in March 2025, the company notes. He leaves behind a global business and a philanthropic legacy that will continue to shape engineering, manufacturing and higher education in Ireland and beyond.
