A man who became one of the world's most powerful business leaders died on Monday at the age of 71.

Lord Alex Trotman had been taken ill suddenly at his home in Osmotherley and died at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. He leaves a wife, Valerie, four children and four grandchildren.

Lord Trotman was born in Middlesex in 1933, but was educated in Scotland. His connection with North Yorkshire dates back to his National Service, when he was stationed at RAF Leeming.

He started work at Ford as a student trainee in the purchasing department in 1955.

He moved to the US in 1969 and, after a series of executive appointments for Ford in Europe, North America and Asia, he was elected company chairman and chief executive in 1993 - positions he held until 1998.

He took over leadership of the world's second biggest car company at a difficult time. Two years earlier, the group had posted record losses of $2.3bn.

Lord Trotman wasted no time turning the group around. He spearheaded a restructuring programme - Ford 2000 - that consolidated the car maker's US and European operations and cut $5bn off bottom line costs.

Under his leadership, Ford became the most profitable car maker in the world and developed a string of award-winning cars, including the Mondeo, Ka and the Focus.

In recognition of his success, he was knighted by the Queen, and he was created a Life Peer in 1999.

Ford's current chairman and chief executive officer, William Clay Ford Jr, said: "Alex was a great friend, colleague and leader of the extended family of Ford employees around the world.

"He was the driving force behind a vast array of visionary changes in Ford Motor Company's global management and innovative products. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."

Lord Trotman was also a director of ICI from 1997 and chairman in 2002 and 2003. He served as a member of the board of directors for IBM, the New York Stock Exchange.

ICI chairman Peter Ellwood said: "Alex Trotman was a major international business figure who made a significant contribution to the regeneration of the company during his years on the board.

"Following a period as a director, he stepped up to be chairman at the beginning of 2003 and provided a firm hand to steer ICI through a very challenging period.

"He was a man of tremendous energy, clarity of thinking and decisive action, and it was a privilege to have been his colleague and friend."