Steve Parks, the founder director of maritime and offshore agency Wake Media, died suddenly on Sunday of a suspected heart attack while at a family celebration.
Parks was well known among marine technology companies, with clients including ABB, DNV GL, Wartsila and WinGD.
Colleagues said they were in a state of shock as they started to deal with the implications of the loss.
Future plans
In a note to clients, Wake senior account manager Steve Edwards said: "This morning we are together at Wake assembling a plan to ensure as far as possible that we can ensure that the business is prepared to maintain the support that our clients require.
"That is exactly what Steve would have wanted and expected from us."
Edwards added: "We appreciate that this horrible news will be equally as shocking and upsetting to you and for the moment thank you for your continued support and understanding at this difficult time."
Friends and business colleagues have been posting condolences on his Facebook page.
Nikos Spath, head of communications for Asia at DNV GL Maritime wrote: "Rest in peace buddy. So unfair. But I'm grateful I got to know you. Will always remember Anfield and Stamford Bridge with you.
"You'll never walk alone!"
Growth story
Wake Media was formed by Parks in April 2014 when he split from the Labdon family’s Rivera Maritime, which also works in the maritime advertising and communications niche.
In April this year, Wake agreed a strategic partnership with Bray Leino, which claims to rank in the UK's top three business-to-business communications agencies.
At that time, Parks said: “Partnering with Bray Leino enables us to be adaptable and serve the forward-thinking companies we believe in.
“Intelligent partnerships such as this will allow us to extend our marketing capacity as needed, with the assurance and added benefit of utilising our unprecedented network of maritime connections and maritime communications know-how.”
