Barfoot and Thompson scion dies

Auckland's real estate industry is in shock after the sudden death of Mark Thompson, one of three directors of New Zealand's biggest real estate company, Barfoot and Thompson.

Mr Thompson was 43. He died of a heart attack on Thursday.

Last year he was a runner-up in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards and he was also a board member of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

Barfoot and Thompson was founded in 1923 by Val Barfoot, soon joined by Mr Thompson's grandfather, Maurice Thompson.

Mark Thompson is survived by his wife, Margot, and two young children.