Who Is Gordon Roddick? Wiki, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Kids, Family & BIO Of Anita Roddick’s Husband
Gordon Roddick is a social activist and entrepreneur who co-founded The Body Shop, one of the most successful and ethical cosmetics companies in the world, with his late wife Anita Roddick. He is also the co-founder of The Big Issue, a magazine that provides homeless people with a source of income and a voice, and 38 Degrees, a campaign group that mobilizes millions of people to take action on issues they care about. He is the husband of Anita Roddick, the legendary businesswoman and environmentalist who died in 2007, and the father of two daughters, Justine and Sam.
Gordon Roddick Wiki/Bio
| Name | Gordon Roddick |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 1942 |
| Birth place | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Scottish and English |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Occupation | Social activist and entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founding The Body Shop, The Big Issue, and 38 Degrees |
| Spouse | Anita Roddick (m. 1970; d. 2007) |
| Children | Justine Roddick and Sam Roddick |
| Awards and honors | OBE, CBE, Albert Medal, Beacon Fellowship Prize, Observer Ethical Award |
| Links | Wikipedia- @Anita_Roddick Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Gordon Roddick was born in 1942 (age: 81 years, as of 2023) in Edinburgh, Scotland, to a Scottish grain broker and a Liverpudlian mother. His parents died when he was seven years old, and he was raised by his aunt and uncle in Littlehampton, West Sussex. He attended a boarding school in Scotland, where he developed a rebellious streak and a love for adventure.
He left school at 16 and joined the Merchant Navy, travelling around the world for four years. He then enrolled at the London School of Economics, where he studied economics and sociology, but dropped out after a year. He later said that he learned more from his travels than from formal education.
Career and Activism
Gordon Roddick met Anita Perilli, his future wife, in 1968, when they were both working at a restaurant in Littlehampton. They married in 1970 and had two daughters, Justine and Sam. They ran several businesses together, including a hotel, a restaurant, and a garage, before opening their first Body Shop in Brighton in 1976. The Body Shop was a revolutionary concept at the time, offering natural and ethical beauty products in refillable containers, with a strong social and environmental message.
The business grew rapidly, expanding to over 2,000 stores in 50 countries, and becoming one of the most recognizable and influential brands in the world. Roddick was the co-chairman of The Body Shop until 2002, when he stepped down to focus on other projects.
He has always been passionate about social justice and human rights, and has used his wealth and influence to support various causes and campaigns. In 1990, he helped to launch The Big Issue, a magazine that is sold by homeless people, who keep half of the cover price.
The Big Issue has since become a global movement, reaching over 100 million people in 35 countries. Gordon also founded The Big Issue Foundation, a charity that provides support and opportunities for homeless people. In 1998, he co-founded 38 Degrees, a campaign group that uses online petitions, emails, phone calls, and events to mobilize millions of people to take action on issues ranging from climate change to democracy. He is also a patron of Reprieve, a human rights organization that works to end the death penalty, torture, and secret prisons. He has also been involved in campaigns for fair trade, animal welfare, peace, and democracy.
Roddick has received several awards and honors for his work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Observer Ethical Awards in 2010, the Beacon Fellowship Prize in 2005, and the Albert Medal from the Royal Society of Arts in 2004. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2003.
The Body Shop faces uncertain future as UK business enters administration
The Body Shop, the iconic ethical beauty brand founded by the late Dame Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon Roddick in 1976, is facing a crisis as its UK business has filed for administration. The move, which puts hundreds of jobs and over 200 stores at risk, comes just weeks after the company was sold by its previous owner, the Brazilian cosmetics giant Natura, to a private equity firm, Aurelius.
According to sources, the Body Shop’s UK business has been struggling with declining sales, rising costs, and fierce competition from other natural and ethical brands, such as Lush and Neal’s Yard. The coronavirus pandemic has also hit the company hard, as lockdowns and social distancing measures have reduced footfall and consumer spending. The company has also suffered from a lack of working capital, which has hampered its ability to invest in new products, marketing, and online channels.
The administration process, which is expected to be handled by FRP Advisory, will allow the company to restructure its operations, cut its debts, and seek new investors or buyers. It is understood that the company’s international business, which operates in 50 countries and has over 2,000 stores, is not affected by the administration and will continue to trade as normal.
The Body Shop was once a pioneer and a leader in the ethical beauty industry, with a strong social and environmental mission. The company was known for its natural and cruelty-free products, its refillable and recyclable packaging, and its campaigns for causes such as animal rights, human rights, and climate change. The company grew rapidly under the vision and passion of Dame Anita and Gordon Roddick, who sold the company to L’Oreal in 2006 for £652m. Dame Anita died in 2007 from a brain hemorrhage, after being diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2004.
In 2017, L’Oreal sold the company to Natura for £880m, in a deal that was hailed as a return to the company’s roots and values. However, Natura decided to sell the company again in 2020 to Aurelius, a private equity firm that specializes in buying and turning around distressed businesses. Aurelius said at the time that it wanted to revitalize the company and build on its brand name.
However, some critics have accused the successive owners of the Body Shop of diluting its original ethos and identity, and failing to keep up with the changing tastes and expectations of consumers. Mark Constantine, the co-founder and chief executive of Lush, a rival ethical beauty brand, told the Sunday Times that under L’Oreal’s ownership, the Body Shop had moved manufacturing to the Philippines, which meant better profit margins and “marketeers discounted to create sales”. He said: “You can’t cheapen everything, remove the values and take more profit without the customers noticing and going elsewhere.” He added: “They lost that feeling one got when buying a Body Shop product – that you were helping to change the world.”
The news of the Body Shop’s administration has saddened and shocked many loyal customers and fans of the company, who have expressed their support and nostalgia on social media. Some have also called for Gordon Roddick, who is still active in social and environmental projects, to step in and save the company. However, it is unclear whether he has any interest or involvement in the company’s fate.
The Body Shop’s administration is another blow to the British high street, which has been battered by the pandemic and the rise of online shopping. Many well-known retailers, such as Debenhams, Topshop, and Arcadia, have collapsed or been taken over by online rivals in the past year. The future of the Body Shop, and its legacy as an ethical beauty pioneer, remains uncertain.
Height, Weight
- Height: 6 ft 2 in / 188 cm
- Weight: 194 lb / 88 kg
- Eye color: Blue
- Hair color: Brown
- Skin color: White
Wife, Daughter, Marriage
Gordon Roddick was married to Anita Roddick for 37 years, until her death in 2007. Anita Roddick was a remarkable woman who changed the face of business and activism with her vision and passion. She was the founder of The Body Shop, a human rights activist, an environmental campaigner, a philanthropist, and an author. She was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2004, which she contracted from a blood transfusion during the birth of her youngest daughter in 1971. She died of a brain hemorrhage in 2007, at the age of 64. He said that she was his soulmate and his inspiration and that he was proud of everything she achieved.
Gordon Roddick has two daughters, one of them is Sam Roddick, who have followed in their parents’ footsteps. Sam Roddick is an artist and activist, who founded the erotic boutique Coco de Mer, and is a vocal advocate for sexual freedom and expression. He also has fur grandchildren, who he adores.
Gordon lives in Littlehampton, West Sussex, where he enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with his family and friends. He is also an avid traveller, who has visited over 100 countries and has a collection of over 10,000 postcards. He is still active in his social and environmental projects, and continues to inspire and challenge people to make a positive difference in the world. He once said: “I love people who have anarchy in their hearts. They are the people who shake things up and make things happen.”
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | £130 million |
| 2022 | £135 million |
| 2023 | £140 million |
