LONDON — Ann Summers CEO Jacqueline Gold has been recognized in the New Year Honours List for 2016, where she has been made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
According to the U.K. government’s website, the New Year Honours lists for 2016 recognizes the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.
Gold is being recognized “for services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Gold said how she’d address the Queen, given the opportunity to respond to the traditional Royal greeting, “and what do you do?”
“I will probably just tell her that I'm a successful retailer who runs nearly 140 stores, up and down the country, and employs around 10,000 people,” Gold told Daily Mail. “Our brand has evolved over the years, and it's no longer for the dirty anorak brigade. Even Zara Phillips has held a couple of Ann Summers parties. So maybe I can suggest that, if she wants to find out more, she asks her granddaughter.”
According to Daily Mail, Gold says she is proud to empower women through her business. Ann Summers employs 7,000 women who each week organize 4,000 Ann Summers parties, and become financially independent in the process.
Gold also empowers women to advance in business through and initiative called WOW that organizes networking events and helps mentor female entrepreneurs.
