Pearl Yachts owner Margaret Whittaker dies, age 76

British boatbuilding company Pearl Yachts has announced the passing of its owner, Margaret Whittaker OBE, who died on Sunday (2 February 2025) at her home in Palma de Mallorca. She was 76.

Whittaker founded Slimming World in 1969, and was awarded an OBE in 2009 for services to the health of the British public.

Her involvement with Pearl Yachts began when she and her husband, Tony Whittaker, invested in the company in 2003, bringing their experience in motor cruising. Under her leadership, Pearl Yachts expanded its presence as a boutique yacht builder, producing a range of motor yachts including the Pearl 62, the Pearl 72, the Pearl 82 and the flagship Pearl 95.

In 2022, Whittaker received The Norns Award for Business Women in the Yachting Industry of the Year in recognition of her role in the sector.

From 2007, Whittaker also owned and redeveloped Son Amar, a well-known cultural venue in Mallorca.

She is survived by her children from her first husband, Roy Miles, a daughter, Claire, and two sons, Dominic and Benjamin. Her second husband, Tony Whittaker, died in 2021.