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On Thursday, the British Fashion Council (BFC) announced that CEO Caroline Rush will step down from her position from June 2025, ending a 16-year run.
The search for her successor will begin immediately, led by management consultancy Egon Zehnder. In the meantime, Rush will continue to lead the organisation.
The executive joined the BFC in 2009, moving into the CEO role from the PR firm she founded. During her tenure, the council’s revenue has more than doubled. But Rush has also navigated significant challenges, including Brexit, the Covid pandemic and the luxury downturn.
BFC chair David Pemsel praised Rush’s “dynamic and agile” leadership whilst “navigating some of the most challenging times for the industry.” Pemsel will extend his term as chair to the end of 2025 and lead the search for Rush’s successor.
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Rush is responsible for pioneering numerous initiatives, such as the BFC Foundation, born out of two charities she launched. Since 2020, the Foundation has donated £4.3 million ($5.7 million) to support designers and their businesses.
“After 15 years in service to the industry, I am ready for a new challenge. Having built the organisation’s resources back to better than pre-pandemic levels, it is in a great position to continue its essential and incredibly important work with new leadership and a new chapter,” Rush said in a statement.
