GERALD RATNER

Gerald Ratner took over the family jewellery chain in the mid 80s, becoming one of Britain's best known businessmen.  He transformed it from 130 stores with sales of £13m to a public company with 2,500 stores and sales of over £1.2bn.  By 1990, Ratners was the world's largest jewellery retailer with profits in excess of £120m.

Following a widely reported gaffe in which he compared his products to M&S prawn sandwiches, Gerald was forced to sell the business.  Reduced to virtually nothing and shunned by banks and prospective employers, he eventually picked himself up and clawed his way back - first with a health club then with Geraldonline. The internet jewellery business is now the largest in the sector.

After turning around his fortunes, Gerald talks with typical candour and a great deal of humour about the roller coaster journey.  He even raises a smile when he produces The Sun's list of the '50 biggest mistakes of all time' - in which his is ranked top!

TESTIMONIALS

"Gerald was excellent. We have no hesitation in recommending him." Toyota