“Caroline is a fantastic industry leader and has tirelessly championed British fashion globally over the past 15 years. During her tenure, she has remained dynamic and agile while navigating some of the most challenging times for the industry. On behalf of the industry, I want to thank her for her work, passionate support and dedication. In support of her decision to step down next year, I will be extending my term as Chair until the end of 2025 and leading the search for her successor to work with the BFC leadership team to continue to put the fashion industry front and centre and earn the respect it deserves.” David Pemsel, President of the BFCsaying.
Caroline Rush, CBE, will step down as Chief Executive of the BFC in June 2025 after 16 years. Under her leadership, the BFC has doubled its income, launched the BFC Foundation and enhanced the global standing of London Fashion Week. The search for her successor, led by Egon Zehnder, is now underway and Rush will continue to support the organisation through the transition.
Rush joined the BFC in 2009 and has led the organisation through significant change, providing a model for fashion councils to support emerging talent around the world. With a focus on designers, she has been instrumental in developing pioneering world-class programmes that unleash and elevate British creative talent. Its revenues have more than doubled during her tenure, the BFC said in a press release.
As part of the BFC Group’s philanthropic arm, Rush launched two charities which later combined to form the BFC Foundation, created to support and secure the entry of talent into the global industry. The charity continues to gain momentum. The Fashion Awards presented by Pandora are the charity’s main source of fundraising and have grown in impact and scale.
During her tenure, Rush was tasked with strengthening London Fashion Week presented by 1664 BLANC as a cultural platform, positioning it as one of the “Big Four” and building London’s identity as the capital of creativity.
Rush headed the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF), which runs a range of programmes focused on industry innovation, particularly around environment, people and circularity. The world-leading white paper “Circular Fashion Ecosystem” developed by the IPF in 2020 is used around the world as a tool to drive circularity and decarbonisation.
Most recently, ahead of the June 2024 election, Rush developed #FashionsFuture, a five-point plan for government outlining key priorities and potential solutions focused on building support and investment to ensure the fashion industry is recognised for its impact and ability to innovate and drive growth in the UK.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved at the British Fashion Council and how we have adapted to constant innovation and change. The resilience and creativity of our designers and industry is exceptional, as we saw during London Fashion Week, and I have enormous respect for this dynamic community. I know first-hand that when the community comes together it can achieve what is sometimes thought impossible. It is a pleasure to work with the brilliant team at the British Fashion Council, as well as the many supporters, advisors and friends. After 15 years of service to the industry, I am ready for a new challenge. Having re-resourced the organisation to better than pre-pandemic levels, it is in an excellent position to continue its essential and incredibly important work with new leadership and a new chapter. This is not goodbye, as I will continue to lead and push for excellence over the next 9 months until my successor is found and the handover is made, and I will always be available to support an organisation I love,” said Rush.
As part of the BFC's governance, a search is underway for a new CEO, led by Egon Zehnder.
Fibre2Fashion (RR) Press Desk
