Margaret Whittaker, who acquired Pearl Yachts nearly 22 years ago, died on February 2 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. She was 76 years old.
Although details of her early life are unknown, Whittaker was an active entrepreneur. For instance, she founded Slimming World, a weight-loss program offering healthy-eating plans and support groups, in 1969. She remained the head of the company until her passing, too. Additionally, she took over Son Amar, one of Palma de Mallorca’s most famous nightspots, in 2007, leading it to a revitalization that includes shows and large-scale events.
Whittaker’s introduction to Pearl Yachts came in 2003. She and her late husband Tony Whittaker (who died in 2021) thoroughly enjoyed motoryachts and the cruising lifestyle. The opportunity to take over Pearl Yachts from its co-founder, Iain Smallridge, arose. Though Smallridge remained—and still remains—as managing director, Whittaker is especially credited with helping Pearl Yachts expand its reach. Specifically, the shipyard went from designing and building aft-cabin motoryachts for British clientele to creating sleek flying-bridge yachts for Mediterranean-based buyers. It further included broadening into megayacht territory. Though the most recent megayacht model is the Pearl 82 yacht (below), the shipyard introduced its largest, the Pearl 95 yacht, in 2018. All the while, sales in the United States and other international markets have continued to grow.

Whittaker received numerous accolades during her career. In 2022, she received a Norns Award as the Business Woman in the Yachting Industry. The Norns Awards recognize professionals in a wide variety of industries for their contributions. Just one year later, meanwhile, Whittaker became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award goes to individuals who have made a significant contribution to their community or gained a national profile. Whittaker was honored for her charitable work.
Pearl Yachts’ Smallridge and the board of directors issued a statement expressing condolences to Whittaker’s family.
Pearl Yachts pearlyachts.com
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