This post was originally published on this site.
David Pemsel will step down as Chair of the British Fashion Council on 30 September, ending four years in the role and a decade on its executive board. A successor will be announced next month.
Pemsel joined the UK fashion trade body, which organises London Fashion Week and the Fashion Awards, as a Non-Executive Director in 2016, before succeeding Stephanie Phair as Chair in 2022.
The BFC has been searching for its next Chair for months, according to WWD. Pemsel will remain involved through September to support the handover, with the SS27 edition of London Fashion Week marking his final edition as Chair.
During Pemsel’s tenure, the BFC strengthened its governance and recorded in-year revenue of £14 million in the 2024-25 financial year, a record for the organisation.
He also helped secure multi-year investment worth millions of pounds from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and approved Chief Executive Laura Weir’s four-year strategy and financial plan, BFC 2030: Access, Creativity, Growth.
The plan targets a 38% increase in the organisation’s gross annual revenue, taking it to £18 million by 2030.
Pemsel said: “It has been an honour to play a part in the journey of strengthening the BFC, securing long-term investment, supporting the next generation of designers and elevating the global profile of British fashion.”
He said the organisation was entering its next chapter and expressed confidence in Weir, the board and the BFC team.
Weir described Pemsel as “an exceptional chair and an unwavering champion of British fashion”. She said his leadership had strengthened the organisation and established the long-term foundations needed to deliver its industry plans.
Pemsel’s departure follows a change at executive level. Weir became BFC Chief Executive in April 2025, replacing Caroline Rush CBE after her 16 years leading the organisation.
The chair transition comes as the BFC prepares for London Fashion Week, which runs from 17 to 21 September. The schedule includes the London returns of McQueen and Mulberry, while Marks & Spencer will stage a highly anticipated London Fashion Week show.
The organisation is also launching Fashion Britain, a programme of more than 1,000 events across seven UK cities during September. Developed under the 2030 strategy, it will involve more than 100 BFC designer members through public talks, retail-focused activities, exhibitions and live performances.