Tributes have poured in today for Sir John Harvey-Jones, the former ICI chief who became the face of business to the wider public through his groundbreaking TV show Troubleshooter.

Sir John, who was 83, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday after a long illness. The renowned businessman was chairman of ICI from 1982 to 1987 but became best known for his BBC documentary, in which he advised struggling businesses.

Richard Lambert, the director general of the CBI, said: “He brought a sense of adventure and dynamism to the bureaucracy of ICI and made some bold decisions. He subsequently became the acceptable face of capitalism through his television programme and brought the world of business to millions in an accessible way.”

John McAdam, ICI's chief executive, said: "Although I personally never worked with John Harvey-Jones, he was a legend within ICI, and held in very high esteem by everyone in the company. It’s very sad news.”

Sir John's death comes less than a fortnight after the ICI name disappeared from the stock market in the UK, as a result of the company being bought by its Dutch rival Akzo Nobel.

When Sir John took over in 1982, ICI was ailing and making huge losses, but in less than five years he turned it into a successful business, and in 1984 it became the first British company to post more than £1 billion in full-year pre-tax profits.

In 1988 he received the title of Industrialist of the Year for the third year running. Knighted for services to industry, he also became honorary vice president of the Institute of Marketing, and chairman of The Economist from 1989 to 1994.

In the late 1990s he turned to TV, becoming a household name 1990s with his Troubleshooter programmes.

He continued to serve in a number of posts after his retirement, including chairman of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, a member of The Advisory Council of the Prince’s Youth Business Trust and as president of the MS Trust.

Sir John was well known for his outspoken leadership style and tireless championing of British industry. In 2006 he hit out at the star of Apprentice, Sir Alan Sugar, branding him a power-exploiting bully.

In an attack on business reality TV shows in general, he also dismissed the trend towards aggressive management styles on TV. He insisted the ethos behind his shows was always one of constructive guidance.

He published a number of best-selling books, including Making It Happen, Getting It Together, Managing To Survive and All Together Now.

With his flowing locks, moustache and sharp suits, Sir John cut a distinctive figure on the TV screens of the early 1990s, and the show was a huge success, running to five series. Everyone from toy manufacturers and shirtmakers to a police force were given the benefit of his advice in the BAFTA-winning show.

Born in London on April 16, 1924, Sir John grew up in India, where his father was guardian and tutor to a young maharajah. He studied at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and in 1940 joined the Royal Navy.

After the war, the Navy sent Sir John to Cambridge University to learn German and Russian and he then worked in Naval Intelligence as a German and Russian interpreter, eventually leaving the service in 1956 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to spend more time with his daughter, who had polio.

He joined ICI as a junior manager on Teesside, and rose through the ranks to join the board in 1973 and eventually become chairman in 1982.

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