Flextech chief executive dies

ROGER LUARD (below), chief executive of Flextech, the television group, died last weekend, it was announced yesterday. Mr Luard, who was 49, had been at home on sick leave since May after he was affected by a rare neurological virus. In his absence, Flextech's chairman, Adam Singer, and managing director, Brent Harman, have been running the company.

In the space of 12 years, Mr Luard transformed Flextech from a small oil services company into the leading supplier of channels for the UK cable and satellite television market. His major coup came in 1997, when he snatched a deal to produce channels in a joint venture with the BBC from under the nose of BSkyB.

Mr Singer said: "Roger was an exceptional man who brought to Flextech a heady cocktail of charm, wit and entrepreneurial clear thinking that helped build this company."

Mr Luard is survived by his wife, Roly, and two children, Harry and Isabella.