Michelle Mone

Michelle Mone, Baroness Mone OBE, is a Scottish businesswoman and life peer recognized for founding the lingerie company Ultimo and her later involvement in political and entrepreneurial ventures. After successfully launching the groundbreaking Ultimo lingerie brand at Selfridges in London in August 1999, Michelle Mone, Baroness Mone OBE, rapidly established herself as a formidable entrepreneur and innovator in the fashion industry. Prior to this, Mone honed her executive skills, ascending to Head of Marketing for Labatt brewing company in Scotland. Her entrepreneurial journey formally began with the co-founding of MJM International Ltd in 1996.

Her diverse television presence continued with roles as a contestant on ITV’s challenging ’71 Degrees North’ in 2010 and on ‘Celebrity MasterChef’ in 2011. In recognition of her substantial and transformative contributions to the British lingerie industry, Mone was officially appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010. Marking a strategic transition from her core business, Mone executed the sale of 80% of her significant stake in Ultimo Brands International to MAS Holdings in November 2014, subsequently resigning her directorships of both MJM and Ultimo in August 2015. This pivotal move preceded a notable shift into public service and new entrepreneurial ventures.

The same year, her wide-ranging impact and achievements were recognized globally when she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women. Further diversifying her robust portfolio, she ventured into the burgeoning digital finance sector, launching the innovative cryptocurrency project Equi in 2018 alongside her partner, Doug Barrowman, demonstrating her foresight in emerging markets.