Phil Salter, who co-founded catalogue deliverer Salmat and helped turn it into a major Australian direct marketing group, has died aged 64.

With Peter Mattick, he launched the Salmat business in 1979 sharing the leadership as joint managing director until both retired in October 2009. Despite involvement in real estate from 1972, he had remained a non-executive director of Salmat, which they listed on the Australian stock exchange in 2002.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Salter's death followed a long illness. Peter Mattic described him as a great friend and business partner: "Phil was an astute businessman who understood the value of strong client relationships. He was a large personality whose presence was felt in many areas," he told the newspaper.