John Desira, founder and chairman of East Anglian dealer group Desira Group, has died at the age of 78.
Born in Tunis to a Maltese family, Desira moved to London with his family at the age of 12, and after leaving school qualified as a mechanic with Henlys Jaguar in London.
In 1972 he moved with wife Susan and his brothers from London to Norfolk, where he founded Desira. Together with his family, over the course of five decades, he built the business from a single small garage in South Lopham into one of East Anglia’s leading family-owned motor groups.
Desira Group said that Desira was “immensely proud” of the business and of his family, with four children and four grandchildren.
The company said: “John’s leadership, integrity, kindness and determination earned the respect of generations of employees, manufacturers, business partners and thousands of loyal customers.
“His influence extends far beyond the motor industry, leaving a legacy of hard work, loyalty and genuine care for others that will continue to guide the company for generations to come.
“He believed that treating people with honesty, respect and kindness was the foundation of a successful business. He took enormous pride in seeing the company grow and was incredibly grateful for the dedication, loyalty and hard work shown by every member of the Desira team over the years.”
Desira Group said that it would move forward under the leadership of managing director Stuart Stone, together with the Desira family and the wider management team.
The group will close all its dealerships and offices at 12pm on Friday, August 14 as a mark of respect, with Desira’s funeral taking place that afternoon. Normal business hours will resume on August 15.
The funeral will be at 1pm at St John’s Catholic Cathedral, Norwich, with family, friends, colleagues, customers and members of the public invited to attend.
Donations in Desira’s memory can be made to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity at https://www.justgiving.com/page/john-desira
The company said: “On behalf of the board of directors and everyone at Desira Group, we thank all those who have sent messages of sympathy and support. They have brought great comfort to John’s family and to everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.
“John Desira’s vision transformed a small Norfolk garage into a thriving family business. His values built a company. His character built a legacy. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”