BARRY DODD CBE has been described as hard-working, warm, enthusiastic, and generous by friends and colleagues alike.

As tributes poured in for Mr Dodd, many held the common theme of his kind nature and openness to anyone needing advice in the business world.

Described by peers as a serial entrepreneur and wealth creator, Mr Dodd worked throughout North Yorkshire to support business, promoting the region on a national and international level.

Until February this year he was chairman of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, the first person to be elected to that role, and was attracting, managing and distributing almost £240m of Government and European funding.

Raised in Chicago, he began his working life as a graduate trainee with the petrochemicals giant ICI, and spent five years in management, based in Teesside, London and New York.

He founded his first company, GSM Graphic Arts Ltd as a two person start-up in Guisborough, later moving to Thirsk. Through growth and 15 acquisitions within the last 15 years GSM has grown to become the largest manufacturer of industrial graphic products in Europe.

In the UK, GSM Group runs four manufacturing plants and a software house.

The Queen approved the appointment of Mr Dodd as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire in September 2014, on the retirement of Lord Crathorne.

Proud of his role as Lord Lieutenant, in 2015 he cited meeting the Queen as the highlight of his tenure, and said: “When you are in the presence of Her Majesty it is really clear to me that she is the boss.”

North Yorkshire County Council said in a statement: “We are enormously saddened to hear the tragic news of the death of Barry Dodd and our thoughts are with his family.

“Barry Dodd CBE was appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire in 2014 but he has been associated with the county and indeed with the county council for many years.

“Barry was a highly successful entrepreneur and owned and ran a number of companies – including the creation of a multinational Global Services and Manufacturing Group with four manufacturing plants in the UK. He was chairman and major shareholder in two high tech software and systems companies and a fast growing distributor of mobile computing products.

"Throughout his business career, however, he has always given hugely of his time to public service and had a passion to help other people succeed in business; for creating employment in rural areas."

“Wherever he went Barry was a positive influence”, said County Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire’s leader. “He carried out his role as Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire with enormous dignity and pride; he added value wherever he went, helping other organisations and people – he will be greatly missed. He has been a personal friend of mine for the last 30 years and the county council has lost a great friend and champion.”

Richard Flinton, North Yorkshire County Council’s chief executive, added: “There are many businesses in North Yorkshire that are enjoying success and doing better through the work that Barry did with them.

“He touched the lives of many people and was always encouraging. He was very passionate about public service and will be remembered for this great work. He will also be missed by many people in the county council who knew him personally as a very good friend and colleague.”