Gerald Ratner

Gerald Ratner is one of Britain’s most recognised entrepreneurs and business speakers.

Best known for building the Ratners jewellery business into the largest jewellery retailer in the world, he has become an internationally sought-after keynote speaker whose story remains one of the most remarkable business lessons of modern times.

With honesty, humour, and invaluable insight, Gerald shares his extraordinary journey, from leading a FTSE 100 company with thousands of employees to experiencing one of the most public corporate crises in business history, and ultimately rebuilding his career as a successful entrepreneur.

Booking is easy with Great British Talent. To find out availability and fees for Gerald Ratner or any other talent for your corporate event or project, contact our Great British Talent agents via [email protected], or call us on +44 1753 439289.

Alternatively, fill out our talent enquiry form here – we’ll aim to respond within the hour. Our knowledgeable team of experts can handle all aspects of your booking to ensure it runs flawlessly.

Type Of Speaker

Business & Finance Consumer Trends High Performance Leadership & Teamwork Personal Development Resilience Speaker

More About Gerald Ratner

Gerald Ratner took over as CEO of the family jewellery chain in the mid-1980s, becoming one of Britain’s best known businessmen. He transformed it from 130 stores with sales of £13 million, to a public company with 2,500 stores and sales of over £1.2 billion. By 1990, Ratner’s was the world’s largest jewellery retailer with profits in excess of £120 million.

However, following a high-profile gaffe, in which he described one of the products sold in the stores as “total crap” and wiped £500 million off the market value, he spent 18 months trying to control the damage to the brand but was eventually forced out of the business. The company renamed itself Signet Group and expunged his name.

He eventually bought and developed a health club which he sold three years later for £3.9 million – the start of his comeback. He then started his online jewellery business, GeraldOnline, which today is turning over £25 million.

Gerald Ratner | Books

He has published two bestselling books:

– The Rise and Fall…and Rise Again (2008) which looked at his fall from grace and how he’s built himself up again.

– Reinvent Yourself: A Brand New Guide For Reinventing Your Life (2020) which teaches readers how to look for the silver lining in every outcome, embrace change, and to reset your mindset.

Gerald Ratner | Speaker

Gerald is a popular speaker with a compelling personal story of resilience and overcoming adversity. His talks look at his professional and personal setback, how he responded, adapted, and ultimately overcame it. He combines his inspiring personal story with practical lessons that attendees can apply in their own working lives.

Gerald has spoken to audiences around the world, from global corporations and industry conferences to leadership forums and business schools. Whether addressing senior executives, entrepreneurs, or future business leaders, he delivers an unforgettable session that combines inspiration, insight, and entertainment.

Gerald Ratner | Speaking Topics

– Leadership

– Reputation Management

– Resilience

– Communication

– Crisis Recovery

– Entrepreneurship

– Success and Failure

– Business

– Teamwork

– Overcoming Adversity

– Mindset

– PR

Gerald Ratner | Ideal For

– Executive and senior leadership conferences where reputational risk, crisis management, or communication under pressure are on the agenda.

– CHRO and L&D audiences focussed on building genuine resilience culture, rather than frameworks without lived experience behind them.

– Business award dinners, gala events, and after-dinner occasions where a high-recognition, self-deprecating narrative sets the tone.

– Entrepreneurship and business growth forums where the full cycle of building, losing, and rebuilding a commercial enterprise is directly relevant.

Gerald Ratner | Audience Outcomes

– A real-world illustration of how quickly a leader’s words can overtake the reputation of an organisation.

– An honest account of what recovery from professional catastrophe looks like in practice.

– A sharper instinct for the gap between what leaders say internally and how public statements land with customers and markets.

– Practical perspective on rebuilding commercial credibility without institutional backing.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Gerald Ratner for your next live event or corporate video.

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Testimonials

Gerald’s story is nothing short of extraordinary: a powerful journey of success, public setback, resilience, and ultimately, reinvention. His ability to speak candidly and humorously about the highs and lows of his career makes him one of the most engaging speakers I’ve ever encountered. What sets Gerald apart is not just his incredible turnaround story, but the unique way he delivers it. His wit, self-deprecating humour, and natural charm make his talks feel more like an evening with a world-class comedian than a traditional business keynote. Audiences are captivated from the first minute – hanging on every word, laughing, learning, and leaving truly inspired. Despite everything he’s been through, Gerald remains grounded, relatable, and refreshingly honest. He doesn’t shy away from his past – instead, he owns it with humility and humour, turning it into a compelling lesson in resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Whether you’re looking to motivate a corporate audience, inspire entrepreneurs, or simply entertain a crowd with a speaker who brings both substance and style, Gerald Ratner delivers every time.

Breda Rose Hyland, BB Collaborations

We had the absolute privilege of hosting Gerald Ratner for The Curious Mindset in-person event, and we cannot recommend him enough. Booking Gerald for an in-person event is a must. His humility, resilience, appetite for risk, and sharp sense of humour truly shine. He is not just an incredible speaker but also a true gentleman. It was an honour to meet him and hear his remarkable story first-hand. Gerald is one of the best speakers we have ever encountered, a huge inspiration. The one lesson everyone can take from him is simple yet powerful: Tough times don’t last, tough people do.

Bandish Nayee – The Curious Mindset

Gerald recently spoke at a dinner I was hosting and I can safely say he is one of the most engaging and amusing people I have ever listened to. His ability to recount what must have been a fairly torrid time, with such great humour and personality is a testament to Gerald and reflected in his popularity. I couldn’t recommend him highly enough, be prepared to laugh a lot and learn a lot at the same time.
Jerry Mumford – European Sales Manager, Sunswap

Gerald Ratner is one of the best keynote speakers you will find. If his story was a work of fiction, you would say that it was ‘far-fetched’. My audience of around 130 guests were put through an emotional rollercoaster, from the dizzy heights of Gerald’s career, to the devastating lows of failure – and then back to success again. All told in Gerald’s witty and unique style. He is probably one of the most underappreciated entrepreneurs of his generation. Gerald Ratner is, quite simply, business royalty.
Ozan Redjep – Estate Agency Director & Investor

As a speaker myself I get to hear a great deal of talks. I have to say Gerald’s talk is amazing, his dry sense of humour had everyone in stitches. Definitely one of the best I’ve heard.
Krystyna Lennon – Celebrity Hypnotherapist & Coach

I booked Gerald to speak at a company event last week. It’s the fourth time I’ve booked Gerald for a speaking engagement and once again, he did not disappoint! I was still sat on the edge of my seat to listen to what is a brilliant speech – humorous, honest and utterly compelling. Whatever your event, this is the speaker to book – your audience will be inspired, motivated and entertained. Thanks again Gerald.
Karen Ogden – Senior Marketing and Communications Leader

Quite simply, Gerald is one of the most interesting, forthright and entertaining people that one could ever hope to meet, with an eclectic taste in music that many youngsters would envy and a dry wit that produces some classic one liners. He is unique!
PJ Statham – Plan Furniture Agency

A highly enjoyable speech with captivated the whole audience with interesting stories and humour. Everyone that attended went away with something and the tone and style in which it was presented set up the rest of the conference superbly. Highly recommended.
Chris, Denplan Limited

Gerald was absolutely fantastic. Holding the audience from the moment he began speaking, he launched our annual conference with a bang. Although filled with humour, his speech still told the story of a painful fall followed by a jubilant rise. He inspired our delegates to believe they can achieve whatever they want. A great speaker and a great man.
Anthony Holdswoth, FCMA, Chairman

A very few achieve exceptional success and enjoy extraordinary wealth. If you do it once in your life, then you’ve achieved something of note. Maybe 1% manage to do this. But…if you did it not just once…but did it twice? Then what would that make you? Gerald did exactly this.
Chris Cardell