The Canadian entrepreneur best known for owning and operating the UK store Selfridges since 2003, passed away after a long bout of illness, his family reported.

Weston’s other business ventures included Canadian store Holt Renfrew, real estate company Choice Properties and food retailer Loblaw. After his retirement in 2016, Weston focused on philanthropy though his Weston Family Foundation and the Selfridges Group Foundation. His daughter, Alannah Weston, is chairman of Selfridges Group.

“W. Galen Weston was an incredible and inspirational leader who cared deeply about our customers and teams,” Anne Pitcher, the managing director of Selfridges Group, said in a statement. “He loved being in our stores and always exuded great warmth, kindness, and amazing energy wherever he went. He was someone who truly believed in us and inspired us and, I have never met anyone quite like him before. Galen Weston will be enormously missed.”