Fashion world mourns Jacques Vert chairman

Friends and colleagues paid tribute to Jacques Vert chairman and chief executive Bill Reid, who died last week after complications following surgery.

Oasis chief executive Derek Lovelock, a non-executive director of Jacques Vert, said: 'He was one of those special personalities in retail. He loved it and made a success of it.'

Seymour Pierce's Richard Ratner agreed. 'We regarded Bill not only as a client, but as a very good friend,' he said.

Reid, 65, became executive chairman in 1996, restored the company to profitability and doubled its size with the takeover of William Baird.

Finance director Paul Allen has been appointed acting chief executive.