It is with great sadness that Philips Lighting Company, a division of Philips Electronics North America Corporation, an affiliate of Royal Philips Electronics, announced that former Philips executive and industry icon Jack Briody succumbed to complications from cancer and passed away on March 8th at the age of 72.
A respected visionary and expert strategist with a strong background in marketing and sales, Briody joined Philips Lighting in 1969, holding successive leadership positions in the sales and marketing functions until 1991. Following an executive marketing position within the ballast division of MagneTek, Briody returned to Philips as president and CEO of Advance in 1993, where he went on to lead the Advance team to record sales and profits until his retirement in 2001. A champion behind the lighting upgrade revolution throughout his career, Briody remained an active driver of lighting and energy-related initiatives upon his retirement.
“Jack was an inspirational, magnanimous force who touched so many lives in such a positive and indelible way,” said Philips Lighting Company Director of Corporate Communications and longtime colleague and friend Susan Bloom.
Kaj den Daas, chairman of Philips Lighting North America, said, "Jack was indeed a role model for all of us in the lighting industry and he will be deeply missed by his friends and colleagues throughout Philips Lighting worldwide."
Brian Dundon, past CEO of Advance, said, "Jack will long be remembered for his outstanding leadership, his tremendous contributions to national energy legislation and energy initiatives, his golf and billiards prowess, and his jokes and laughter that filled the room."
Longtime customer and friend Larry Powers, previous CEO of The Genlyte Group and now CEO, Philips Business Unit Professional Luminaires North America, said, “Jack was a true visionary leader in our industry who will be remembered by everyone he touched for many years to come.”
Briody is survived by his wife Andrea and children John and Danielle. Regarding the impact that Briody has had on friends and colleagues throughout the industry, Susan Bloom said, “Jack was a man of great style and grace and his loss is devastating to all of those who have known and loved him throughout his extraordinary life and illustrious career. His passing truly marks the end of an era in the lighting industry and he will be greatly missed.”
Donations in Jack Briody’s memory may be made to either the American Cancer Society’s Brick “Relay For Life” or the Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation as follows:
American Cancer Society
Attn: Brick Relay for Life
1035 Hooper Avenue
Tom's River, NJ 08753
In memory of Jack Briody
(732) 818-3517, ext. 13
Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation
333 E. 88th Street, Suite 830
New York, NY 10016
(212) 297-4336
www.childrenscbf.org