Anita Roddick

Anita started The Body Shop on 26th March 1976 simply to create a livelihood for herself and her two daughters, while Gordon was trekking across the Americas. She had no training or experience and her only business acumen was Gordon's advice to take sales of £300 a week. Anita saw entrepreneurship as a means of survival, and firmly believed it nurtured creative thinking. In 2006 The Body Shop was purchased by L'Oreal, and as Anita said at the time: "For both Gordon and I, this is without doubt the best 30th anniversary gift The Body Shop could have received. L'Oréal has displayed visionary leadership in wanting to be an authentic advocate and supporter of our values. They understand what a maverick The Body Shop was in the business world and how we helped change the language of business, incorporating the action of social change, especially in human rights, animal welfare, the environment and community trade." In 2007 Anita announced that she had Hepatitis C, which she contracted from a contaminated blood transfusion in 1971, however she was not diagnosed with the condition until 2004. Married: T. Gordon Roddick, 1970 Children: Justine 1969, Samantha 1971 Grandchildren: Maiya Hopi 1994, Atticus-Finch 1998, Osha Sophia Bluebell 1998 Education: Maude Allen Secondary Modern School for Girls, Littlehampton; Newton Park College of Higher Education, Bath Career 1962-76 Library of International Herald Tribune, Paris Teacher of English and History, England Women's Rights Dept. of International Labor Organization (ILO), based at UN, Geneva Owner and Manager of a restaurant and hotel in Littlehampton Opened The Body Shop in Brighton, West Sussex, England on 26th March 1976