Jacqueline Gold

Chief executive Ann Summers

Jacqueline Gold is one of Britain's most charismatic and successful businesswomen and an inspiration to thousands of women. At the age of 19, after joining Ann Summers for work experience, Jacqueline saw the potential of selling sexy lingerie and sex toys to women in the privacy of their own homes.

Working her way through the ranks of Ann Summers Jacqueline was made Chief Executive in 1987, and quickly transformed Ann Summers into a multi-million pound concern.

Ann Summers now boasts a sales force of over 7,500 women as party organisers, has 134 high street stores in the UK, Ireland, and Channel Islands and one in Spain, and an annual turnover of £155 million. Whilst the takeover of Knickerbox has meant Knickerbox concessions in every Ann Summers store.