Kenneth Ashcroft, a financial manager and director at major British companies including Ford, Comet, Next, Dixons and Amstrad, has died aged 91. His career spanned the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Early life and career
Born in Preston, Lancashire, to James, an electrician, and Winifred (nee Walker), Ashcroft shared a terraced three-bedroomed house with another family, often sleeping in the bath. He taught himself to build radios and speakers, scavenging for electrical parts left by American forces after World War II. His interest in radio hamming continued throughout his life.
After leaving Preston Grammar School, he worked at a local accountancy firm while studying for his chartered accountancy exams in the evenings. He then worked as an accountant at the Atomic Energy Authority (1958-60) at Windscale, Cumbria, and at Mullards in Blackburn (1960-62).
Rise at Ford Europe
In 1961, at age 26, Ashcroft moved to Ford Europe in east London as a senior finance analyst. By 29, he became financial manager of Ford Europe's sales operations and was featured as a rising star in a Sunday Times advert.
Return north and key roles
In 1968, he returned north as finance director at Ideal Standard in Hull. He later joined Comet (1973-75), helping save the electrical chain from bankruptcy. From 1975 to 1983, he was finance director at Hepworth's in Leeds, overseeing the establishment of Next, initially focusing on women's work wear, which became a highly successful high street chain.
He became Hepworth's deputy chairman in 1982 but left after boardroom manoeuvres, swapping his company Jaguar for a bicycle. He then served as finance director at Dixons in London from 1984.
Work with Alan Sugar and later life
After two years at Dixons, he worked for Alan Sugar as Amstrad's finance director, with Sugar barking orders from a raised central desk. He later worked for Sugar at Betacom and served as a non-executive director for Trinity Lighthouses in retirement.
A gifted pianist and organist, Ashcroft helped run the St Albans International Organ Festival and restore the cinema organ in Hull. He met Patricia Hothersall while studying at Preston library; they married in 1957. She worked as a scientist at the Atomic Energy Authority. She survives him, along with their two daughters, Jayne and the author, and four grandchildren.
