Ann Summers boss Jacqueline Gold dies at age 62
Jacqueline Gold – Ann Summers’ boss – has passed away from breast cancer at the age of 62 – just ten weeks after her beloved father David passed away.
In a double tragedy for the Gold family in 2023, the businesswoman passed away on Thursday night after battling a serious illness for seven years.
Jacqueline was surrounded by close family when she died, including her husband, daughter and her sister Vanessa, CEO of Ann Summers and described her sibling today as “an absolute warrior” who has been battling stage 4 cancer since 2016.
Her famous father, the co-chairman of West Ham United, who rose from abject East End poverty to a £500 million fortune, died after a brief illness on January 4 at the age of 86.
A statement from Jacqueline Gold’s family said: ‘It is with unspeakable sadness that Ann Summers confirms that our wonderful Executive Chairman Jacqueline Gold CBE passed away last night with her husband Dan, daughter Scarlett, sister Vanessa and brother-in-law Nick, by her side’.
Jacqueline was last pictured two months ago laying flowers for her father in London’s East End, on the day of his funeral. She was heartbroken by this passing and said at the time that the Gold family had lost “our hero.”
David Gold with his daughter Jacqueline, who passed away last night after a long battle with breast cancer
Jacqueline, left, with her sister Vanessa and David Gold’s partner Lesley Manning (right) in January as they laid flowers for Mr Gold in Green Street, where he grew up, following his death in January
Jacqueline, left, who built Ann Summers into a huge brand, was described as a “warrior” as she battled stage 4 cancer
Jacqueline was made CBE in the 2016 New Year Honors for services to Entrepreneurship, Women in Business and Social Enterprise. Her father said she and her sister Vanessa transformed the brand.
When David Gold bought Summers with his brother Ralph Ann in 1972, it had four stores.
The London-based company operated as a standard sex shop under the ownership of its founder, Michael Caborn-Waterfield.
Jacqueline joined the company in 1981. She quickly started to make her mark and introduced the ‘Party Plan’ concept.
For example, ‘parties’ would be held at customers’ homes, where women would receive presentations about sex toys and lingerie, but party games would also be played. These proved extremely popular and a good way to get around laws that prevented sex toys from being displayed in public.
Ann Summers now has 80 high street stores across the UK and Ireland and in the years since has become synonymous with the sale of adult lingerie and toys.
A family statement said today: ‘Jacqueline is best known for founding Ann Summers and running a company run by women, for women. She was also an activist for women in business, championing female entrepreneurs with the ambition to improve the working environment for women.
‘From an internship to Chief Executive Officer in less than 10 years, her determination and dedication to create a unique retail offering led to the creation of a multi-channel retail chain, comprising retail stores, direct sales ambassadors and a rapidly growing online and business from third parties. It is her vision and creativity that has taken Ann Summers from an unknown brand to a British household name and stable of the British high street.
“In recognition of Jacqueline’s significant achievements throughout her 40-year career, she was awarded a CBE in the 2016 New Year Honors for services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise.”
Photographed in 2000, Jacqueline started out as an intern at the company before becoming CEO. At one point she was sewing bras (pictured)
Jacqueline’s sister Vanessa (left) with her father and brother said the family is heartbroken
The family statement continued: ‘Jacqueline’s death comes just two months after the passing of her father, David Gold, joint chairman of West Ham United FC. The thoughts and heartfelt condolences from everyone at Ann Summers are with Jacqueline’s husband Dan, daughter Scarlett and sister Vanessa at this extremely sad time.”
Ann Summers CEO and Jacqueline’s sister, Vanessa, said: ‘Jacqueline fought courageously against stage 4 breast cancer for seven years and was an absolute warrior throughout her cancer journey. In life she was a pioneer, a visionary and the most incredible woman, all of which makes this news that much harder to bear. “As a family, we are heartbroken at the loss of our wife, mother, sister and best friend.”