Anthony Brown 1937- 2023

The Furniture Makers’ Company joins the industry in mourning the death of Mr Anthony Brown, chairman and owner of Bisley, who died aged 86 on 4 April 2023.

Tony was a remarkable person, respected in the world of contract furniture as a man of great integrity, who built the hugely successful manufacturing businesses Bisley on a foundation of hard work and investment, coupled with enormous respect and care for the circa 1000 people he ultimately employed.

Under his leadership, Bisley expanded massively in line with the growth of the knowledge sector and its requirement for offices. Bisley is based at a 17-acre site in Newport, South Wales, where it manufactures both steel and wood products to serve the workplace and home office and has become synonymous with innovation and quality.

Hugely passionate about manufacturing, Tony was awarded an OBE in 1993, as well as our Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, for his outstanding contribution to the British manufacturing industry. Bisley’s quintessential MultiDrawer and filing cabinets are considered by many to be modern classics.

Tony was incredibly proud of Bisley’s international expansion, for which Bisley has received numerous accolades, including two Queen’s Awards for Export Achievement, several Design Guild Mark awards for its products, and being a recipient of our Manufacturing Guild Mark since 2015. Tony was also a staple of the local community, particularly in his support of the Dragons RFC.

Most recently, Tony’s unwavering care for those he employed was evident in the recent establishment of the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in 2022, gifting 51% of Bisley to its employees to ensure its long-term success.

Richard Costin, CEO of Bisley, said: “We are all hugely saddened by Tony’s passing. Speaking personally, it has been an honour to work with Tony and be entrusted with Bisley’s legacy. We look forward to commemorating his wonderful life of public service, sharing his great many achievements and our fond memories in the coming weeks and months. We pass on our condolences to Mr Brown’s friends and family. We will miss him greatly.”