ECA pays tribute to Paul McNaughton

ECA has been deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Paul McNaughton, Chairman and former Managing Director of Oxfordshire-based electrotechnical and engineering services contractor Darke & Taylor, and past ECA President.

Paul was a highly respected business leader in our sector, who served as ECA President in 2012/2013. He was both greatly liked, and held in high esteem, by colleagues from across the industry.

Since 2015, he chaired ECA’s Labour Relations Committee and was Chief Employer Negotiator for the JIB collective agreement, having been an active member of this and other ECA and industry boards and committees for many years.

Paul began his industry career as an apprentice at Darke & Taylor in 1974, where he rose in the ranks to become a shareholder and then Managing Director of the company.

Simon Newton, Managing Director at Darke & Taylor, said, “Paul’s own progression from apprentice to MD was not only a testament to his own talent and hard work, but it also enabled him to have a positive impact on many people’s lives.

“Paul will be missed by those he knew and worked with, and our heartfelt sympathies go out to his family.”

In addition to his work as ECA President and board member, Paul was also a Certsure board member and JTL trustee-director. He was especially passionate about creating career development opportunities for apprentices, both within his company and the wider electrotechnical industry.

Ruth Devine, Managing Director at SJD Electrical and Chair of the Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) added, “Paul really looked after me when I joined the sector, and he was great to work with on the development of the trailblazer apprenticeships.

“He was supportive and open with incredibly helpful business advice. He had such a knack for cutting through the noise and effectively saying what needed to be said. And such great fun too. His passing is a massive loss.”

Geoffrey Russell, Chair of apprenticeship training provider JTL, praised Paul as “a tireless supporter of apprentices and the industry,” adding, “We will above all miss Paul as a wonderful person.”

ECA CEO Steve Bratt said, “Many in our sector knew Paul, given his extensive involvement with ECA as Past President and ECA Ltd board member, and with Certsure and JTL.

“But above all of this, Paul was a good friend to us all. He always worked with utmost integrity and plenty of understated wisdom. He will be remembered as an industry mentor who helped many of today’s senior business leaders at the start of their careers. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts go out to his wife Karen and his family.”