Tributes paid to ‘phenomenal’ Cambridge entrepreneur Dr Mike Lynch after his body is recovered from sunken superyacht
Business and technology leaders have spoken of the “incalculable” loss after the death of Cambridge entrepreneur Mike Lynch was confirmed on Thursday.
Dr Lynch, 59, died after his luxury yacht, the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily. Five bodies have been recovered from the yacht, with the search for the sixth - Dr Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah - ongoing. Dr Lynch’s wife was among the 15 rescued. The body of Recaldo Thomas, a chef who was working on the boat, was recovered on Monday.
Dr Lynch was the creator of Cambridge software giant Autonomy, and was also involved in a number of other successful Cambridge companies, including cybersecurity unicorn Darktrace, AI company Luminance and investment company Invoke Capital.
David Tabizel, Dr Lynch’s co-founder at Autonomy, said: “It looks like we’ve lost our dear Dr Mike Lynch. RIP. The world has lost a genius. His family have lost a giant of a man.”
Eleanor Lightbody, chief executive of Cambridge AI legal firm Luminance which Dr Lynch founded, said: “Mike was a visionary unlike any other.
“He had a unique ability to spot the next technological revolution and solve tomorrow’s challenges before others even knew they were coming.
“Beyond that, it was his connection to people that made him special.
“He had a steadfast belief in the UK’s technology sector, in our incredible academic institutions, and in the talent he took the time to spot and nurture, regardless of background or discipline.
“Above all, Mike was a kind man who had an impact on many and will be sorely missed.
“I feel honoured to have known him, worked with him and learnt from him over the years.
“The UK has lost someone with the means, authority, knowledge and drive to propel the UK into technological leadership, but his legacy will live on in all of the extraordinary businesses he built and mentored, as well as his family who are in my thoughts.”
Suranga Chandratillake, partner at Balderton, a venture capital firm in London, said: “Mike Lynch’s PhD at Cambridge put him at the very forefront of modern artificial intelligence.
“More than just technology, however, Mike contributed vastly to its commercialisation.
“Mike didn’t just invent things, he built products and companies.
“By my count, he founded over 10 technology companies and was instrumental in the building of three that became multi-billion dollar public companies (Autonomy, blinkx and DarkTrace) – a personal track record without equal in the UK’s technology ecosystem.
“I worked for Mike for five years and he then served on my board at blinkx for close to a decade.
“I can share that he was an unfailingly supportive mentor who challenged and supported in equal measure.
“Years before Covid, he mastered hybrid work, splitting his time between Cambridge (where the tech was built), London (where it was sold) and Suffolk (which he loved dearly), and juggled leading his work with being a loving and much-loved dad and husband.
“He was famously fiercely competitive but, to his friends, equally fiercely loyal and always ready for a cup of tea and a chat.
“The loss to the UK’s technology ecosystem is incalculable but I am as sad to lose an old friend and all my thoughts are with his wonderful family who are facing an unthinkable double tragedy at this time.”
Family friend Patrick Jacob said: “Mike’s ability to identify and solve complex problems was phenomenal as was his ability to simplify and explain them.
“As a friend, Mike was never dull and always ready for a lively debate on almost any topic conducted with intelligence and convivial vigour.
“He could be challenging and direct but I never came away from seeing him without feeling my life was enriched by the experience.”
Martina King, chief executive of Featurespace, the Cambridge fraud prevention company, said: “It is a high statistical probability that Featurespace wouldn’t be a thriving technology company without Mike.
“Our co-founders, Professor Bill Fitzgerald and Dave Excell, were inspired by Mike’s combination of intellect and commercial acumen.
“They benefited from his friendship and guidance.
“Mike’s personal investment in Featurespace supported the development of an invention that has proved fundamental in the progress of AI and he served as a non-executive director for over 10 years from 2008 – 2019.
“Mike was a true champion of the UK technology sector, including the need for greater diversity and advocated for many female leaders, including me.
“Cambridge, the technology sector, colleagues and friends will be unable to calculate the loss of this truly extraordinary, intellectual, inventive, humorous and generous man. He will be sorely and deeply missed.”
Dr Lynch was on the board of several prominent institutions, including the BBC and the British Library, and was a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said: “We are deeply saddened by the awful news about the deaths of those aboard the Bayesian yacht.
“Mike Lynch was an outstanding BBC director who made a major contribution during his time on the board, from 2007 to 2012.
“Wise, generous and insightful, he played a particularly key role in accelerating our transformation as a digital organisation.
“Our thoughts are with his family and all others involved.”
The academy paid tribute to its “mentor, donor and former council member” on Thursday.
In a statement, it said: “The trustee board, fellows and staff of the Royal Academy of Engineering are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mike Lynch and send our profound condolences to his family.
“Mike became a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2008 and we have fond memories of the active role he played in the past as a mentor, donor and former council member.
“He was also one of the inaugural members on the enterprise committee.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
The chief executive of the British Library, Sir Roly Keating, said: “Mike’s extraordinary understanding of technology, combined with his passion for the British Library’s mission to share knowledge, made him an invaluable member of our board.
“He was thoughtful, perceptive and supportive, and will be deeply missed by all of us who worked with him in his time here.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Francis Crick Institute described Mike Lynch as a “human being of great ability”.
Dr Lynch was a member of the Create The Change fundraising board, set up by Cancer Research UK and which helped fund the building of the Institute, a biomedical research centre.
Lord John Browne said: “Mike Lynch should be remembered as the person who catalysed a breed of deep tech entrepreneurs in the UK.
“His ideas and his personal vision were a powerful contribution to science and technology in both Britain and globally.
“I send my condolences to those close to him. We have lost a human being of great ability.”
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Mike Lynch and all those who have been affected by this tragedy.
“Together with his wife, Angela, Mike was a valued donor to Cancer Research UK and a member of the board for our Create the Change campaign, which funded the building of the Francis Crick Institute.
“His support has helped to bring leading scientists together under one roof to tackle the biggest health challenges faced by humankind, including cancer.
“Our sincerest condolences go out to all the families affected.”
Dr Lynch’s death was confirmed after divers spent days searching the superyacht Bayesian, which sank off the coast of Palermo in a storm on Monday morning.
He died just months after being cleared in a 13-year legal saga centred around the $11bn (£8.4billion) sale of Autonomy to Silicon Valley company Hewlett Packard (HP).
Dr Lynch had been charged with orchestrating a fraud and conspiracy leading up to the 2011 deal, which turned into a costly albatross for HP.
The boat trip was a celebration of Dr Lynch’s acquittal in the case.
Dr Lynch’s co-defendant and former Autonomy colleague Steve Chamberlain, 52, from Longstanton, died on Saturday, after being hit by a car while out running in Stretham.
Technology industry group TechUK added to the tributes for Dr Lynch.
A spokesman said: “Mike Lynch was a hugely significant and pioneering figure in the UK technology sector.
“Our hearts go out to all of the families and friends who have been impacted by these tragic events.”
The bodies of Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo have been recovered from the yacht.
The Bloomer family described the Jonathan and Judy Bloomer as “incredible people and an inspiration to many”.
They said: “We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy.
“Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.
“Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.
“This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder.”
A Clifford Chance spokesperson said the firm was “in shock and deeply saddened” about the tragedy and its thoughts were with the Movillos’ relatives.
He added: “Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident.”
Gareth Williams, a friend of the chef Mr Thomas, told the BBC: “I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit.”
