"Even in these tough times try to have little treats."

This was one of the last text messages I received from Gareth, in January this year. We were planning our next visit to a pub, our next chance to have a chat and a laugh, to set the world to rights, to discuss Big Ideas and tell bad jokes. It was impossible to have a boring conversation with Gareth. He eradicated boredom. He vaporised it. He could enter the most boring seminar room in the world, filled with the world's most boring executives, and pretty soon everyone would be having a great time.

The work Gareth produced with Rob Goffee has stood and will stand the test of time. As a team they are among the very most influential analysts and commentators on leadership, management and organisations we have. They have certainly had a hugely beneficial influence on me and many other journalists and writers, along with all those aforementioned delegates and readers of their books and articles. Whenever I'm struggling to write something about work and management I usually wonder: what would Gareth and Rob say?

Gareth wore his deep learning lightly. There was always a bit of mischief, and a wink in the eye, to accompany the profound insights. A favourite gag was his response to earnest managers who asked him who was "hot" right now, who should they be reading? "A feller called Durkheim", he would whisper conspiratorially. "Or Weber." And when he was feeling really naughty: "Karl Marx."

Gareth did his bit - more than his bit - to civilise the workplace, to cheer us up, to make us think, to encourage us to do better and be better. Even in these tough times try to have little treats. It was a treat knowing Gareth. I am devastated that there won't be any more pub-based symposia. But I will always be grateful to have known him and to be able to call him a friend.

Stefan Stern