Jacqueline Gold, boss of Ann Summers, has died aged 62

Ann Summers head Jacqueline Gold has died aged 62, following seven years of treatment for breast cancer.

She died on Thursday night, her family announced.

A trailblazer in the retail industry, she expanded Ann Summers from just four off pitch shops into a multi-million pound business. Gold was proud to lead a “business run by women, for women”, her family said in a statement.

“She was also an activist for women in business and championed female entrepreneurs with the ambition to better the working environment for women,” it continued.

Founded in 1971, the business was acquired by her father David Gold, the former joint chair of West Ham United, and her uncle Ralph Gold in 1972. Ann Summers now operates over 80 stores nationwide.

Jacqueline Gold was awarded a CBE in the 2016 New Years Honours for services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise.

Her death follows that of her father’s, who passed two months ago in January.