By PAGE Editor

LONDON, MONDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2022 the British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce new appointments to its Board of Directors to broaden expertise on the board as the organisation re-sets its strategy to focus support for creative businesses and support for the industry.  The UK’s Fashion Industry is world renowned, exercises significant soft power, delivers economic and social benefits, is integral to personal expression and is at the intersection of Creative Industries across the UK.  

The Board sees the opportunity to further support the fashion industry to sustainably grow and the UK’s designer businesses from emerging talent to designer brands to continue to creatively lead.  However, as it faces into sustainability challenges, a cost-of-living crisis, increased costs, and economic instability due to war in Ukraine the need to bring the industry closer to share expertise and support Creative Businesses tackle these challenges is required.

The new non-executive director appointments are Caroline Issa, Chief Executive and Fashion Director of Tank and Editor of online magazine Because, who is also part of BFC Press Committee, Ciara Byrne, Vice President of New Business Innovation Condé Nast and Lynda Petherick, Head of Retail for Accenture in the UK and Ireland join the BFC Executive Board, effective immediately. They will join existing members David Pemsel, Chair; Caroline Rush, Chief Executive; Laura Strain, Chief Operating Officer, Jamie Gill, June Sarpong, Scott Morrison and Sian Westerman, BFC Non-Executive Directors and Justine Simons, Board Observer.  The Board is also supported by a global mix of voluntary Ambassadors, Committees and Advisors who provide advice and guidance across multiple divisions. 

David Pemsel, Chair of the Board said “The BFC has a dynamic Board, the new appointments have been made to bolster support for Caroline and team while collectively honing the strategy to be laser focused to support creative, innovative and sustainable businesses to thrive through the challenges that lie ahead and increase opportunity to knowledge share”. 

The BFC seeks to implement solutions that not only drive positive change for designer businesses, but opportunities for its broader network and the communities that it serves. To ensure the BFC can review, reframe and reset for the future, each of the board members will be focused on key specific areas accordant to their expertise. 

BFC Chair

David Pemsel

The three new Non-Executive Directors 

• Caroline Issa – Designer and Creative Community

• Ciara Byrne – Digital Innovation

• Lynda Petherick – Sustainability

The four existing Non-Executive Directors 

• June Sarpong - Creative Industries

• Sian Westerman - Economics and Finance

• Scott Morrison – Strategy

• Jamie Gill - Diversity and Inclusion

Board Observer

• Justine Simons – Government and Policy

Executive Directors

• Caroline Rush, BFC CEO

• Laura Strain, BFC COO

Additionally, the following advise the BFC Board and Team

• Sarah Mower - Ambassador for Emerging Talent

• Sophia Neophitou – Chair of BFC Press Committee

Caroline Issa, BFC Non-Executive Director said: 

"I am very much looking forward to working with the rest of the Board to help support the BFC in amplifying the incredibly talented and diverse voices of the British fashion industry. British designers and entrepreneurs are known the world over for their originality and creativity, and it is an honour to contribute more formally towards helping the BFC achieve their ambitious goals”.

Ciara Byrne, BFC Non-Executive Director said:

“I’m thrilled to join the board of the British Fashion Council, among some of the UK’s leading fashion, creative and business experts. It has never been more important to support our local creative and design industries in tackling pressing issues such as climate change and economic uncertainty and I look forward to being a part of the work that the BFC does to advance this”.

Lynda Petherick, BFC Non-Executive Director, said: 

“Now more than ever, we must take bold action to minimise our impact on the planet. By working closely with a wide range of leaders across the industry, we can embed sustainability into everything we do and drive new levels of value as a result”.

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