Nathalie Massenet elected new British Fashion Council chair

By

Florent Gilles

Published
Sep 6, 2012

It’s official. The founder of Net-A-Porter will succeed Harold Tillman as chairman of the British fashion association, according to organization’s twitter feed and the group’s website. The British Fashion Council executive board agreed to Massenet’s appointment, September 6.

A star of the Internet business world at the head of the British Fashion Council? That day has apparently arrived. Natalie Massenet has been elected to be the next chairman of the BFC, according to the association’s website. The trade group for the British fashion industry met with its board of directors on Wednesday evening, September 6 to elect a successor for Harrold Tillman. Massenet’s appointment will go into effect 2013. 

The arrival of a heroine of luxury e-commerce in an honorary but strategic position as chairman of British Fashion Council should consolidate London as the top place for innovation and the digital domain. The Council will also become a little more feminine if the group's membership does not change. Caroline Rush currently handles executive management while Simon Ward is in charge of operations. 

Harrod Tillman was named chairman in 2008 to replace Sir Stuart Rose, the owner of Arcadia Group (Topshop, etc.). Tillman guided several initiatives that have brought prominence to British fashion, such as the annual award of the BFC / Vogue Fashion Fund, Burberry's return to the womenswear schedule in London, the London Showrooms project and the China-Britain alliance. Harold Tillman's term was extended for one year at the beginning of 2012, making him the chairman to have served for the longest time in the Council's history.