Jacqueline Gold, head of Ann Summers, passes away at the age of 62.

Jacqueline Gold, the entrepreneur who popularized adult merchandise in mainstream markets through her Ann Summers retail chain, has passed away at the age of 62. Her efforts normalized the purchase of intimate goods like lingerie and vibrators in British communities.

After battling breast cancer for seven years, she unfortunately passed away on Thursday evening. Her family is devastated and deeply saddened by their loss.

Gold, the former executive chair of Ann Summers, transformed the adult store into a haven for women and spearheaded the fight for gender equality in the business world. Despite her illness, she continued to champion her cause, even leading a Twitter chat to support female entrepreneurs just hours before her passing.

Back in 2015, Gold declared that her mission was to give women power in their intimate relationships and later on, in the corporate world. Her work was acknowledged a year later when she was granted a CBE for her contributions to women's entrepreneurship, business and social initiative.

Vanessa Gold, who is the CEO of Ann Summers, has shared the sad news that her sister, Jacqueline, has passed away after a long battle with stage 4 breast cancer. Jacqueline fought bravely against the disease for seven years and was a true fighter throughout her journey. She was a remarkable woman, a pioneer and an inspiration to many. The news of her passing has left her family completely devastated. They have lost a beloved wife, mother, sister and best friend, and their loss is immeasurable.

Jacqueline Gold passed away within a span of three months once her father, David, who was the joint chairman of West Ham United, left this world. David passed away at the age of 86 due to a brief illness.

In 1979, when she was 19 years old, he provided her with hands-on experience at Ann Summers. He had previously purchased the four-store sex shop enterprise a few years prior to this.

Not impressed by the male-dominated environment, she proceeded to bring the brand to the homes of women. She arranged parties where products were sold, similarly to Tupperware parties, and introduced vibrators into the living rooms of middle class England. This provided the opportunity for women to make their own earnings.

Gold was appointed as the head of Ann Summers in 1987, leading the company's expansion to over 100 stores in various towns throughout the UK. This move helped popularize women-oriented items, including the widely recognized Rampant Rabbit vibrator.

In a written statement, her relatives mentioned that her ingenuity and imagination played a crucial role in raising Ann Summers' public profile to new heights, thereby transforming it into a popular and recognised British name. Within a mere decade, she rose from an internship position to become the CEO, exemplifying her steadfast determination and dedication towards establishing a distinct retail identity. Her unwavering zeal for crafting an unparalleled purchasing experience established a diverse multi-channel retail network, which included physical stores, direct retail agents, and an ever-growing online and third-party business.

Gold described her experience at Ann Summers as eventful, commenting that she encountered numerous challenges. During the initial stages of the company's development, she was detained at a trade fair on accusations of operating an unlicensed adult store. Similarly, when Ann Summers launched its first store in Ireland in 1999, she received a bullet in the post. Additionally, in 2003, Gold had to take the government to court and emerged victorious after Ann Summers was prohibited from promoting job opportunities at jobcentres.

During the year 2020, Ann Summers went through an insolvency process to reduce their rental costs due to financial losses. As per recent reports submitted to Companies House, the company has managed to bounce back and make a profit of £6.4m in 2021. The reason behind this success is an increase in sales by nearly 11%, reaching £93.2m.

Gold discussed the challenges she faced when dealing with a business environment dominated by men, with very limited female role models during her early days as a retail executive.

Gold experienced challenges in her private life as well. In her memoir titled A Woman’s Courage, she expressed that she had been mistreated by her stepfather and had experienced depression as a result.

As time went on, she experienced difficulty in conceiving and had to go through multiple attempts of IVF. When her son, Alfie, reached the age of eight months, he passed away due to a rare illness affecting the brain. Additionally, the caretaker of her daughter, Scarlett, was placed in jail after confessing to attempting to poison her.

In 2016, Gold received the first diagnosis of breast cancer. After treatment, she was in remission in the following year. In 2019, the cancer came back and she underwent three cycles of chemotherapy. In the hope of assisting others, Gold shared her experiences during this time.

On Twitter, Kirsty Wark, the TV host who created the BBC documentary on Womanhood together with Gold, expressed her admiration for Jacqueline. According to Wark, Jacqueline is among the most wonderful persons she has ever encountered. She is an amiable, unassuming, and optimistic woman who absolutely cherishes her loved ones.

Deborah Meaden, a well-known businesswoman from the Dragons' Den TV show on the BBC, recently shared on Twitter that Gold is an innovative and pioneering figure for women in the business world.

Richard Walker, the leader of Iceland's grocery store, expressed his sorrow on Twitter, saying, "This is terribly tragic news. Jacqueline was an exceptional retailer and a strong advocate for women in the business world. Rest in peace."

Dame Delyth Morgan, the top boss of Breast Cancer Now, expressed her admiration for Gold's contributions to the charity. According to her, Gold has played a significant role in promoting knowledge about breast cancer and dismantling any negative attitudes or prejudices towards individuals with the condition. Additionally, Gold has aided in generating financial support for crucial research and assistance programs.

Gold's husband, Dan, and daughter, Scarlett, are left behind in her passing.