Service to farewell Sir John Todd

Sir John Todd in 2011. He was knighted in the same year, only weeks after his retirement. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Sir John Todd will be farewelled today at a service in Wellington.

The Todd family patriarch, 88, died last week after a period of illness.

Knighted in 2011 only weeks after his retirement from the helm of the Todd Corporation, the business leader was also one of the country's top philanthropists as well as a leading patron of the arts, and chairman of his family's charitable Todd Foundation.

Sir John joined the business through Todd Motors in 1945 at its former Petone car assembly plant, after studying accountancy and commerce at Victoria University.

Among his many positions, he was also a founding patron and trustee of the Arts Foundation.

A death notice says a service will be held at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, in Thorndon, at 2pm.

Several former colleagues paid tribute to Sir John online, with one saying he was a man of great human understanding and compassion.

"His contribution to my life and to many others will be long remembered," said Bruce Martin, who previously worked for Sir John.