The former Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey has died at the age of 65, her representatives have confirmed.
The businesswoman and entrepreneur died in Morocco on Saturday after a long illness. She was awarded an OBE for services to the transport industry and charity in 2013.
Among the tributes was one from her fellow former Dragon Theo Paphitis who said he was “so sad to hear of the passing of the lovely Hilary Devey”.
He added: “She left us all with some fantastic memories, may she rest in peace. My thoughts are with her family. x”
As well as appearing on Dragons’ Den, she also presented the Channel 4 series The Intern.
Her charity work included her position as vice president of the Carers Trust and she was also a patron of the Stroke Association, having herself suffered a stroke in 2009.
She also appeared in The Business Inspector on Channel 5.
She made her fortune launching a freight company Pall-Ex which having sold her house and car to set up grew to have a turnover of more than £100 million.
Speaking in 2011, she said she had been proud to “do my part” to support the country’s budding entrepreneurs.
She said: “I would have loved the opportunity to have stood before the Dragons, and I will remember my own experiences and the realities of running a business today, when choosing to support - or reject - the budding entrepreneurs joining me in the Den.”
