Mike Lynch was a businessman and entrepreneur who founded the tech company Autonomy, which he later sold for nearly $12 billion.
- Died: August 19, 2024 (Who else died on August 19?)
- Details of death: Died off the coast of Sicily in a boating accident at the age of 59.
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Mike Lynch’s legacy
London-born Mike Lynch studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and went into business for himself almost right away. He founded Lynett Systems Ltd. in the 1980s while still a student, and in 1991 founded the fingerprint recognition firm Cambridge Neurodynamics.
Lynch’s big move came in 1996, when he founded Autonomy with partners David Tabizel and Richard Gaunt. Specializing in search software, Autonomy quickly became one of Britain’s largest companies, drawing comparisons between Lynch and American tech tycoon Bill Gates. In 2011, he sold the company to Hewlett-Packard for $11.7 billion.
Lynch was accused of fraud after the purchase, allegedly misrepresenting the company’s finances. He was indicted in the United States on conspiracy and fraud charges and in June 2024 was found not guilty on all charges.
Lynch was killed when his yacht, The Bayesian, was caught in a storm and sank off the coast of Sicily. His 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, and five other people among 22 overall died in the accident. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued, as were five boat passengers and nine crew members.
Tributes to Mike Lynch
Full obituary: The New York Times
