Property entrepreneur Cyril Dennis has passed away at the age of 71.
Dennis suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Florida last week. A funeral was held on Thursday in Monaco, where he moved to from the UK in 1994.
His portfolio interests were managed by his company, Capital & Provident.
A renowned philanthropist, Dennis was awarded an MBE in 2002 for his service to the Jewish community in his birthplace of Essex. He was best known for his smooth negotiating skills and ability to charm whomever he was doing business with.
Dennis started his working life in the 1960s as a market trader where he honed his selling skills before moving into estate agency at Ilford firm Harry Rona and then to Douglas Allen Spiro. He then went into housebuilding before becoming an investor.
An early proponent of London’s Docklands and a prolific buyer in the early 1990s, he made major sales in 1994 and 2006 in sync with market cycles. In 2008 his wealth was estimated by The Sunday Times to be £130m and he had property investments in the US and Europe as well as the UK.
Dennis’s interests were hit by the most recent downturn but he managed to avoid distressed sales. Most recently he agreed a joint venture in Peruvian Wharf, E16, with Cain Hoy Enterprises and Galliard Homes.
A unique character with the gift of the gab
“Cyril was a unique character. Smart, driven and always engaging, with personal charm and a big heart. His family and his charitable endeavours were at the centre of everything he did.” Jonathan Goldstein, chief executive, Cain Hoy
“Cyril Dennis was a good friend for more than 30 years. He was a very charitable man who did a lot to support a great number of causes, both within and outside the community. It is very sad that he passed away at a relatively young age and he will be greatly missed.” Gerald Ronson, founder, Heron International
“When I first met Cyril he was the manager and I was the negotiator at an estate agency. He was white heat. No-one could refuse his negotiating skills and he spent his life utilising them. He had the gift of the gab from being a market trader and was proud of having been one.” Alan Selby, director, CBRE
“He worked his way up from nothing. We either did the markets or sold ice cream. He was successful in the early years, suffered through the recession and bounced back as you would have expected him to do.” Stephen Conway, chief executive, Galliard Homes
