Peter Rowell

Industry bids farewell to a true gentleman

CRN was very sad to learn today about the death of Peter Rowell - chairman of M&A specialist Regent Associates.

We have had a long relationship with Peter at CRN, and his insights and comments on the market have been invaluable over the years.

He was always willing to speak to us on any story, no matter how trivial it may have seemed, and he had the greatest respect from the CRN team.

In a brief obituary in his TechMarketView column today, Richard Holway (a close friend and colleague of Peter), said: "Peter worked at British Olivetti before, in 1976, joining IDC UK as marketing director and then as managing director. First the UK, then Europe and then in 1983 Peter was appointed worldwide president of IDC and to the board of parent IDG. In 1987 he returned to the UK and founded Regent Associates which has gone on to become one of Europe's leading advisors in tech M&A.

"He has rightly often been voted as one of the most influential people in the UK and European technology industry. But I will remember Peter above all as both a really good friend over many decades and as being one of that rare breed of men you can still describe as a ‘Gentleman'. He will be greatly missed".

Peter sadly lost his battle against Leukaemia on 18 May, and leaves a wife and son.

Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this sad time.