John Danton chief executive of one of the UK's biggest tissue manufacturers has died at the age of 56.

Mr Danton, who suffered a heart attack, played a major role in Leicester Paper Converters' (LPC) growth from a UK based group to a major overseas operator, with sites in France and Sweden.

When Mr Danton was appointed chief executive, in 2005, he was the first person from outside the Tejani family, which owns the business, to hold the post. He had joined the group three years earlier.

Executive chairman Amir Tejani said: "John was a key member of our central management team and worked closely with me and the other executive directors to make the group a trusted supplier to our customers. His unfortunate and unexpected passing is a shock to us all, and our thoughts are very much with his family at this difficult time.

"John's professionalism, hard work, kind heart and sense of humour will be sadly missed by all."

LPC is based at a 1.2 million sq ft production site at Hamilton Industrial Estate, Leicester, which employs more than 600 people and produces about three million toilet and kitchen rolls a day.

Before joining LPC, Mr Danton spent 20 years at multi-national chemical company Albright and Wilson, where he ended up as chief executive of its American business.

Source: This Is Leicestershire

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