Peter Sutherland, known as the 'father of globalisation', dies

Peter Sutherland, the former Irish Attorney General, European Commissioner, and "father of globalisation" has died, age 71.

Sutherland died in Dublin on Sunday morning, having been ill for some time.

Born in Dublin in 1946, he became Ireland’s youngest Attorney General at the age of 35. He went on to become the youngest European Union Commissioner, where he helped lay the groundwork for the European single market.

He was also a former Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, travelling the world to hammer out multilateral trade agreements, a role that earned him the moniker "father of globalisation".

He was active in the private sector, as a long-serving chairman of oil giant BP as well as Goldman Sachs International. He was also a member of the Foundation Board at the World Economic Forum.

For the past 10 years, Sutherland had served as United Nations Special Representative for International Migration, highlighting the urgent need for action to help the world’s most vulnerable people.

Tributes

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum said: "With the passing of Peter the World Economic Forum has lost a great friend and a personality who was absolutely essential for building the Forum into a truly international organization with global impact."

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said he was "deeply saddened" by his passing, adding that he was "fearless and forceful in his advocacy for some of the world's most vulnerable people".

European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, said he was a "giant of Irish, European, and international public life."

The WTO said that they "mourn the passing of Peter Sutherland, who was instrumental in building the multilateral trading system we have today."