Ann Summers Names Maria Hollins CEO as Vanessa Gold Becomes Chair

Ann Summers has reorganized its leadership following the death in March of Jacqueline Gold, who had led the business since 1987.

Vanessa Gold, Jacqueline Gold's sister, is moving from chief executive to chair. She had been acting as chief executive since February 2023 and before that served as co-managing director.

Maria Hollins has been promoted to chief executive. Hollins joined Ann Summers in 2019 from House of Fraser, where she was executive product and trading director, and had previously worked at ASOS. At Ann Summers she served first as co-managing director and then as sole managing director before the promotion.

The changes come after a turbulent period for the family-owned lingerie and adult products retailer, which went through a company voluntary arrangement during the Covid pandemic before reporting rising sales and a return to profit in 2022.