Tributes are paid to tragic millionaire described as ‘a top bloke’

By JULIA HORTON
Published on 27/11/2012 00:00

TRIBUTES have been paid to a millionaire Scottish businessman who died after being hit by a train near his home.

Andy Carolan was described by one of his many shocked friends and colleagues as “one of those guys we all would like to be”.

The popular 51-year-old married father-of-two had been playing golf before he was struck at Longniddry train station in the middle of the day.

A source said: “He was always a happy, upbeat, chatty guy who didn’t seem to have any problems when you spoke to him.

“It’s a total shock. He seemed to have everything you could want.”

Police said there were “no suspicious circumstances” 
surrounding the death of the executive, who lived in Gullane, East Lothian, with his wife Sherrie, and sons Mark and Conor.

He was regarded as one of the “giants” of the Scottish marketing industry as a result of his achievements at Leith-based Tangible, establishing the firm as one of the UK’s most successful and lucrative agencies.

Leading the tributes, Karen Trickett, chief operating officer at Tangible, said: “Andy was a much-respected and well-loved colleague. He will be sorely missed.

“All our thoughts are with his wife Sherrie, his sons Mark and Conor, and sister Lesley.

“On a personal level, I worked with Andy for nine years. He was my colleague, mentor, but most importantly my friend and I owe him a great deal. I will miss him very much.”

Robert Mayes, a former editor of Precision Marketing magazine, also knew Mr Carolan well. He said: “Andy was one of those guys we all would like to be. Not just successful and immensely respected for his ability and professionalism but universally liked, a really top bloke.”

Mr Carolan founded Navigator Responsive Advertising in 1993 and led the sale of the direct marketing agency to Cello Group in 2004, for £4.6 million.

He stayed on with the expanded business and, in 2007, became chairman of Tangible, the restructured division of 
Edinburgh-based Cello.

He left Tangible in September this year and was in the process of setting up a new business development consultancy when he died just over a week ago.

Tangible Financial creative director Jonathan Spooner said: “Andy has been an inspiration to hundreds of grateful individuals in the marketing industry over a long and distinguished career. Anyone who worked with him at EHS, Navigator or Tangible will remember his enthusiasm for the business, his inimitable sense of humour and his 
ruthless pragmatism.

“Quite simply, he was one of the nicest blokes I have ever worked with. I shall miss him very badly.”

He is understood to have recently renovated the family’s home, believed to be worth around £700,000, on East Links Road, which overlooks Gullane’s three golf courses.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “I can confirm that a 51-year-old man was struck and killed by a train at Longniddry station at around 1.15pm on Friday, 16, November. “There are no suspicious circumstances and a report is being sent to the procurator fiscal.”

Mr Carolan’s wife did not wish to speak about the tragedy.