BBC News | AMERICAS | Victor Kiam dies aged 74

BBC News Online: World: Americas

Tuesday, 29 May, 2001, 06:48 GMT 07:48 UK

Victor Kiam dies aged 74

Victor Kiam - the American businessman who became famous for his advert saying "I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company" - has died.

His son said he passed away at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, on Sunday.

He was 74 and had been suffering from a heart condition.

A truly remarkable entrepreneur of the old kind - the kind they simply don't make any more
Business associate Jonathan Lyons

Mr Kiam made his fortune from Remington electric razors when he fronted television advertisements for the product giving them his own endorsement.

The ads, which spread from the US to Britain, made the firm and Victor Kiam a household name.

He also became a majority owner of the New England Patriots NFL side in 1988 and remained at the helm for four years.

Described as an astute businessman, Mr Kiam semi-retired in 1992, ending the series of Remington commercials as a multi-millionaire.

'What I like best'

But he remained chairman of Remington's board of directors until his death. He also continued to do what he liked best - selling.

He went on to become chairman of the British cigarette lighter company - Ronson Plc - and ran a firm that marketed a line of travel-related products called TravelSmart.

Kiam said what he liked best was bringing new products to market and developing companies.

He made a difference in American business
Remington President Neil DeFeo

"I get more pleasure out of this than in running a $1 billion company that goes to $1.2 billion," he said.

Current Remington President Neil DeFeo said: "He was a wonderful man and he'll be missed by many people. And he made a difference in American business."

The London Times newspaper quoted one of his business associates in later years, Jonathan Lyons, as saying that he was "a truly remarkable entrepreneur of the old kind - the kind they simply don't make any more."