Retail mogul Sir David Jones - who saved Next from going into administration - has died at 76.
The businessman had suffered ill health for some years, it is understood.
Sir David helped rescue Next from the brink of collapse in the 1980s.
The retail giant said: "It is with great sadness that NEXT plc records the passing of its former Chairman and Chief Executive Sir David Jones CBE over the weekend.
"He will be remembered by many of his colleagues as the man whose courage, good sense, kindness and hard work navigated the company through its most demanding moments in the late 1980's until his retirement in 2006.
"David was a true friend of NEXT and our thoughts are with his family at this time."
Next faced disaster in the late 1980s after many stores failed to make profit.
The share price fell to 7p but Sir David orchestrated the move to sell more than 400 then jewellery stores in the UK.
But it is believed the businessman, who resided in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, had Parkinson's disease for a number of years.
In 2014, Sir David, who was also a former boss at JJB Sport, was accused of forging a bank statement to disguise the fact he had borrowed £1.5million.
But his trial at Leeds Crown Court collapsed due to his ill health.
