David Gold - Profile
From beginnings of extreme poverty, shrugging aside numerous setbacks along the way, David Gold is now one of Britain's most successful businessmen.
Brought up in the East End of London, David started out helping his mother sell buttons from a stall outside their house. Moving indoors they then converted their front room into a card and sweet shop. From there, he went on to run a bookstore in Charing Cross, and before long branched out into publishing, printing and distribution.
Looking around for a new challenge, David recognised the huge potential of the Ann Summers Concept. It was soon added to his portfolio and now with his daughters Jacqueline, Chief Executive and Vanessa Deputy Managing Director it has become one of the biggest success stories in British retailing. It currently has 135 stores with an annual turnover of £150 million.
As Ann Summers went from strength to strength, it gave David confidence to start up an even riskier venture. A newspaper. The Sunday Sport was born. It quickly established itself and soon became an equally successful daily newspaper.
With his great acumen, and punishing work schedule, there was nothing that David Gold wouldn't do to ensure success. Keen for others not to benefit from flying him around the world to meetings, Gold Air International was set up, chartering jet travel to the rich and famous. In 2007 he placed a $70 million order for two new Global 5000's.
But the greatest passion in David Gold's life is football. It dates back to having played for West Ham as a schoolboy and being offered an apprenticeship. On this occasion, his father who ordered him to finish his apprenticeship as a bricklayer cruelly denied him the opportunity.
with his fiancee Lesley Manning and Karen Brady
So when Birmingham City Football Club was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1993, David and his brother joined forces with David Sullivan, to save the club. Though relegated to the Second Division just after their purchase, David saw this as the ideal opportunity to rebuild and restructure the club. They appointed Karren Brady as Managing Director, and together they have transformed Birmingham City FC into one of the most shrewdly run football clubs in the country.
David, who enjoys an active role as Chairman, saw his beloved team finally secure promotion to the Premier League at the end of 2001/02 Season. With Steve Bruce installed as manager and a number of new star signings, Birmingham easily survived their first season back in the top flight of English football. And now, in contrast to the problems besetting football clubs up and down
the country, the future of the Blues looks increasingly secure.
David Gold and family were in the Top 100 of the Sunday Times Rich List and is currently valued at approximately £450 million. Among the holdings of Gold Group International Ltd are Gold Air, Ann Summers, Knickerbox, a number of property companies, Broglia Press and of course, Birmingham City Football Club.
David was twice winner of the prestigious International Malta Air Rally, 1981,1982, runner up on three other occasions.
He is engaged to Lesley Jill Manning, a renowned beauty therapist from Hurstpierpoint.
David lives in a mansion in Surrey, set in 55acres with its own private Golf Course designed by him and its own helipad and runway which is long enough for his private 4 seater Cessna 182 and Gazelle helicopter which he pilots himself.
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