Caroline Rush CBE is stepping down as CEO of the British Style Council in June 2025, following 16 years within the function.
Rush joined the British Style Council in 2009 and has led the organisation via important change, offering a blueprint for trend councils to help rising expertise all over the world.
Targeted on designers, she has been instrumental in creating the “world-class” programmes that unlock and elevate British inventive expertise. Its income has greater than doubled in her tenure.
Amongst many achievements, Rush launched two charities that later mixed to type the BFC Basis – created to help and safe the pipeline of expertise to the worldwide trend trade.
The charity continues to construct momentum, remitting £4.3 million to help designers and their companies since 2020. The Style Awards are the primary fundraiser for this and have grown in influence and scale.
Rush was additionally tasked with strengthening London Style Week as a cultural platform throughout her tenure, positioning it as one of many “Massive 4” and constructing out London’s id because the capital of creativity.
She additionally spearheaded the Institute of Constructive Style, which leads numerous programmes to concentrate on trade innovation, particularly round atmosphere, individuals and circularity.
Most lately, forward of the election in June 2024, Rush developed #FashionsFuture, a five-point plan for presidency outlining priorities and potential options targeted on rallying help and funding for the style trade.
Caroline Rush CBE, CEO of the British Style Council, stated: “I couldn’t be prouder of what we on the BFC have achieved and the way we’ve tailored to fixed innovation and alter.
“The resilience and creativity of our designers and trade is phenomenal as we witnessed all through London Style Week and I’ve enormous respect for this dynamic neighborhood
“I’m now prepared for a brand new problem. Having constructed the organisation’s sources again to higher than pre-pandemic ranges, it’s in an ideal place to proceed its important and extremely vital work with new management and a brand new chapter.”
Rush will proceed to guide the organisation whereas the seek for her successor begins.
David Pemsel, Chair of the British Style Council, stated: “Caroline is a incredible trade chief and has relentlessly championed British trend globally for previous 15 years.
“Throughout her tenure she has remained dynamic and agile while navigating a number of the most difficult instances for the trade.
“In help of her determination to step down subsequent yr, I’ll prolong my time period as Chair to the top of 2025 and lead the seek for her successor to work with the BFC to proceed to place the style trade entrance and centre, constructing the respect it deserves.”
