Tributes have been paid to “true leader” Sir Michael Marshall following the death of the Marshall Leasing founder at the age of 87.

Sir Michael, who passed away on Saturday evening while on holiday in Spain with his wife Sibyl and friends, comes recently after he was honoured by Marshall Leasing at a lunch held at Cambridge Airport in May to celebrate having leased more than 50,000 vehicles.

Jonathan Ross, director of Marshall Leasing, said: “There can be no way of expressing our sense of pride in having been students of the great man.

“Sir Michael was a true leader and entrepreneur. He led by example, always dedicated to the day job.

“He was forever challenging us to provide the customer with our best possible service and he put reputation ahead of all things.

“Despite being one of Cambridge’s biggest employers across Marshall Motor Group, Marshall Aerospace and Land systems, he somehow always managed to know every member of staff on a first-name basis.

“Above everything else, I will always regard him as the kindest of employers, and a true gentleman. I, along with my colleagues, many of whom have worked for Marshall over decades, will work hard to maintain and deliver on his legacy.”

Sir Michael was president, former chairman, former chief executive and majority shareholder of Marshall of Cambridge Holdings, which owns 64% of Marshall Motor Holdings plc.

Marshall Leasing began life 28 years ago as an independent contract hire and fleet management company within the Marshall of Cambridge group.

While its aerospace and defence group has become a world leader, the Motor Group was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2015 and Marshall Leasing became the subsidiary of Marshall Motor Holdings plc.

Two years later, the NIIB Group, which trades as Northridge Finance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Ireland UK, acquired Marshall Leasing for £42.5 million.

According to the 2018 FN50 research, Marshall Leasing is the 26th largest contract hire company in the country, with a risk fleet of 7,332 vehicles.

It was named leasing company of the year sub-20,000 vehicles in the 2018 Fleet News Awards.

In March this year, Marshall Leasing announced its fleet had broken through the 8,000-vehicle milestone for the first time.