Ann Summers pioneer Jacqueline Gold CBE dies aged 62

Ann Summers pioneer Jacqueline Gold has sadly died on the age of 62, following seven years of therapy for breast most cancers.

The information was introduced in a press release from her household, studying: “It’s with unspeakable unhappiness that Ann Summers verify our superb government chair Jacqueline Gold CBE handed away yesterday night along with her husband Dan, daughter Scarlett, sister Vanessa, and brother-in-law Nick, by her aspect.

“From an internship to Chief Government Officer in lower than 10 years, her willpower and dedication to creating a singular retail providing led to the creation of a multi-channel retail chain, consisting of retail shops, direct gross sales ambassadors, and a quick rising on-line and third-party enterprise. It’s her imaginative and prescient and creativity that noticed Ann Summers develop from an unknown model to a British family title and steady of the British excessive avenue.

In recognition of Gold’s achievements throughout her profession, she was awarded a CBE within the 2016 New 12 months Honours for providers to entrepreneurship, ladies in enterprise and social enterprise.

In 2018, she talked about struggling abuse as a toddler, in addition to the fears that maintain ladies again from talking out. Gold additionally stated that ladies ought to be introduced up with the identical aspirations as boys, guaranteeing everybody has an equal probability of getting into companies and the boardroom.

Gold initially selected to maintain her battle with breast most cancers a secret for over a yr, earlier than later speaking brazenly concerning the illness and the impression it had on her well being.

The household assertion continued: “Jacqueline’s loss of life comes simply two months after the passing of her father, David Gold, the Joint-Chairman of West Ham United FC. The ideas and honest condolences of everybody at Ann Summers are with Jacqueline’s husband Dan, daughter Scarlett, and sister Vanessa at this extraordinarily unhappy time.”

Ann Summers CEO and Jacqueline’s sister, Vanessa, added: “Jacqueline courageously battled stage 4 breast most cancers for seven years and was an absolute warrior all through her most cancers journey. In life she was a trailblazer, a visionary, and essentially the most unbelievable lady, all of which makes this information that a lot more durable to bear.

“As a household, we’re totally heartbroken on the lack of our spouse, mum, sister, and finest pal”.

Talking in tribute Retail Belief CEO Chris Brook-Carter stated: “It’s with nice unhappiness that at the moment we heard of the passing of Jacqueline Gold CBE, pioneer, pal and beacon for the retail trade, after a brave battle with most cancers.

“Jacqueline was massively supportive of our work on the Retail Belief and impressed us all to do extra round driving the agenda for range and inclusion, supporting these affected by home abuse and empowering ladies.

“Over a few years, she was additionally an incredible inspiration personally – her heat, ardour for a extra inclusive world and braveness confronting inequality within the office performed a big position in my very own views and actions across the struggle for a fairer world.

“She set the bar and was an actual power for good for retail. Jacqueline confronted the unbelievable challenges in her life with dignity and bravado and she or he’ll proceed to encourage us all. She will probably be very sadly missed.

“We’re all considering of the Gold household and the prolonged Ann Summers household who’ll really feel her loss so deeply. We ship our deepest sympathies.”