It is with great sadness that TRBusiness reports the passing of friend and popular industry figure, David Tillman, who lost his battle with a long illness yesterday.

 

His son Erik Tillman shared the news and some details about his father’s upcoming funeral on a dedicated CaringBridge website, where he encourages those that knew David well to ‘share this news with the rest of Dad’s expansive communities’.

 

“We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place,” said a message on the site. “We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.”

 

Industry colleagues can access the link here.

 

With decades of experience working in multiple travel retail sectors and distribution channels, Tillman held roles in sales, business development, emerging market expansion and corporate affiliate general management.

 

He worked with Copenhagen Airport, Elizabeth Arden, Cosmopolitan Cosmetics and launched Beauty2Market in 2002. In recent years David Tillman had become a partner in Blueprint, the Denmark-based travel retail consultancy.

 

Known for his ‘enthusiasm and positivity’

Marie-Clothilde Brulé, Tillman’s former business partner and close friend very kindly shared her thoughts and memories of him with TRBusiness: “David and I have known each other for almost 30 years and worked as business partners under our company Beauty2market. He always had a positive outlook on life, profundity of character, resourceful, concerns for others, it was such a pleasure and fun to work along with David.

 

“For the past three years, I have been very near David during his battle with constant hope of recovery and I am extremely sad to see him go. Life does not play fair. David has been a great business partner and a wonderful friend. Walking the rest of the path of friendship alone is heartbreaking. Rest in peace my dear friend.”

 

TRBusiness Owner/Joint Managing Director, Nigel Hardy, paid his own tribute: “I had the privilege of knowing David for over thirty years, in fact he was one of my first North American contacts when I entered the industry in 1991,” said  “Always full of enthusiasm and positivity, it was these qualities in his business life, which he applied to his own personal battles with his illness.

 

“David was a real trooper to the very end. I am so pleased that we had the opportunity to meet up and share some great conversations during this year’s Summit of the Americas. I will miss him greatly. G_d bless you my friend. Rest in peace.”

 

“It’s so sad to learn of David’s passing, he was one of travel retail’s kindest personalities with a great spirit,” added TRBusiness International Sales & Marketing Director, Ben Webb, who saw Tillman at the recent Summit of the Americas event in Palm Beach.

 

“I will always look back fondly at the many meetings we had; he would always take the time to share stories about his personal life, and of course to ask about our lives. He had a fantastic passion for the travel retail sector and served so many brands with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication. Rest in Peace David.”

 

There will be a funeral service for David at 10am on Sunday, 14 August, at Larchmont Temple: 75 Larchmont Ave, Larchmont, NY.