Caroline Rush | |
---|---|
Born | July 1971
Glasgow, Scotland |
Years active | 1992–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Caroline Rush CBE (née Larner; born July 1971) is a marketing professional who is Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council. [1] [2] Her role is to promote the British fashion industry, particularly through organising London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Awards. [3]
Caroline Larner was born in Glasgow, the middle of three daughters, and spent her early childhood in Bishopbriggs. Her father is an accountant and her mother is a teacher. [4] Her father's job took the family to England, first to Derbyshire and then to Chorley, Lancashire. [5] [6]
Rush began working in public relations and marketing in about 1992. [7] Her association with the British Fashion Council started in 1998, when she was employed by Annette Worsley-Taylor Associates, who were the creative and marketing consultants for the London Fashion Week. [7] She started Manchester-based PR agency Crush Communications in 2002, [7] [8] and became managing director. [9] The British Fashion Council appointed this company as the press office for all British Fashion Council initiatives, including the London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Awards, with Rush as a public relations strategy adviser to the British Fashion Council. [7]
Rush was appointed British Fashion Council joint chief executive in March 2009. [7] [10] [11] As joint Chief Executive, she oversaw the Council’s move into Somerset House in 2009. [12] [13] In a restructuring, Rush became sole chief executive in June 2012. [2] Rush "played a key role in attracting brands such as Burberry and Pringle and British designers such as Antonio Berardi and Jonathan Saunders back to London." [10] [14] Hilary Alexander credited Rush with changing London Fashion Week from being a 'poor cousin' compared with Paris, Milan and New York, "and showing that Britain is really where it all begins". [15]
Caroline is currently represented by talent & rights management agency Kruger Cowne. [16]
Rush lives in Wimbledon. [12] Her husband Matthew is a physical education teacher [11] and former professional footballer for West Ham, Norwich and Oldham. [17] Their daughter Lana competed in junior Wimbledon 2012 and 2013. [18] [19]
Rush was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to the British fashion industry. [20] [21]