Picture: courtesy of Cosmopolitan
Ann Summers CEO Jacqueline Gold has passed away at the age of 62 (on 16th March 2023). She had been fighting Stage 4 breast cancer for over 7 years.
Gold is credited for transforming the lingerie and sex toys chains from just four shops into a multi-million pound business with outlets across the UK. The brand was originally developed by David and Ralph Gold, her father and uncle, who snapped up the business in 1972 after it went into liquidation. Ms Gold first joined the business on an internship in 1981, and later helped grow the brand by launching the concept of the Ann Summers party. 10 years later, Ms Gold was then made a director of the business before swiftly being named its chief executive officer. She continued to lead the business, which today has 81 stores, in recent years as executive chair alongside her sister Vanessa, who is now CEO.
A family statement said: “It is with unspeakable sadness that Ann Summers confirm our amazing executive chair Jacqueline Gold CBE passed away yesterday evening with her husband Dan, daughter Scarlett, sister Vanessa, and brother-in-law Nick, by her side.”
Her sister Vanessa said: “Jacqueline courageously battled stage four breast cancer for seven years and was an absolute warrior throughout her cancer journey.”
Gold was made a CBE in 2016 for services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise.
Her death comes less than three months after that of her father, David, the joint chairman of West Ham United. He died aged 86 after a short illness.
