Jacqueline Gold, CEO of Ann Summers, passes away at the age of 62.
The picture has been sourced from Getty Images.
Jacqueline Gold, who revolutionized the retail industry by modernizing Ann Summers into a destination for intimate apparel and adult products, and who advocated for equality for women in the workplace, passed away at the age of 62.
After undergoing treatment for breast cancer for seven years, she passed away on Thursday evening according to her family.
Ms. Gold transformed Ann Summers from a company with only four small stores in less busy areas into a successful enterprise worth millions of pounds.
In 2016, she received the honor of being named a CBE for her contributions in entrepreneurship, promoting women in business, and advancing social enterprise.
The loved ones of Ms Gold expressed their profound grief, as Ann Summers confirmed that their exceptional executive chair, Jacqueline Gold CBE, had passed away the previous night. Her husband, Dan, daughter, Scarlett, sister, Vanessa, and brother-in-law, Nick were all with her during her final moments.
According to the statement, she was an advocate for equal opportunities for women in the business world and supported aspiring female entrepreneurs who aimed to improve the professional landscape for women.
Vanessa, who holds the role of chief executive at Ann Summers and is also her sister, expressed her admiration for the late woman. She referred to her as a pioneer, with futuristic ideas and an extraordinary personality. The news of her passing was especially difficult to hear, due in part to her great accomplishments.
In 1971, the initial store of Ann Summers began functioning. In the subsequent year, Ms. Gold's father and his brother Ralph purchased the company.
Ms Gold initially started working at her family business as an intern. However, she revolutionized the Ann Summers brand by making it more appealing to women.
In 2015, she informed the BBC that when she initially suggested this plan to the company's male executives, it was met with resistance.
According to her, a member of the board expressed doubt and dropped his pen, asserting that women do not have any interest in sexual matters.
She established a novel gathering service inspired by Tupperware parties, exclusively for female clients, which instantly gained popularity.
Ann Summers' approach resulted in a rise in sales, which prompted the growth of its High Street outlets. The brand currently boasts of a total of 88 stores in the UK and Ireland.
The remodeled shops had well-lit interiors and focused primarily on women, creating a unique identity separate from the stereotypical perception of clandestine adult stores.
During an interview with BBC, she mentioned that during her time at Ann Summers, the customer base was primarily male, with only 10% being women. However, she proudly stated that today, every single one of the customers who attend their parties is female, and the majority of those who visit their stores are also women, accounting for 80% of their customer base.
I often express that I have transformed the company from a group exclusively focused on raincoats to a highly-regarded organization with a strong female presence.
In addition to managing her enterprise, Ms. Gold provided guidance to other women running their businesses and pressured the authorities to strengthen gender parity in the corporate sphere.
In 2018, during an interview with the Sunday Times, she expressed her disappointment about the lack of female role models. She stated that the situation had not improved much.
She expressed her aggravation about continuously discussing female empowerment and equality to the newspaper. She believes that the world is advancing quickly, but the improvements in these areas are happening at an agonizingly sluggish pace.
