Pavita Cooper named chair of British Fashion Council

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has found new leadership in Pavita Cooper, who will be taking up the role of chair from October 1, 2026. Cooper will succeed David Pemsel, who announced his exit from the council and its board last month, with his departure date set for September 30.

Cooper will bring a plethora of experience to the BFC, having held senior executive positions at Lloyds’s Banking Group and Christies. She is also currently on the board of The Old Vic and The King’s Trust, which oversees YNAP’s Modern Artisan Project and Chanel’s Métiers d’Art Atelier Fellowship.

In a statement, Cooper said it was an honour to take up the helm of the BFC, adding: “My priority will be to champion fashion as an important driver of UK growth and help strengthen the environment in which British designers, entrepreneurs and businesses can start, scale and compete globally.”

BFC 2030 in full swing

Her appointment comes on the back of the BFC announcing a new strategy: ‘BFC 2030: Access, Creativity, Growth’, a four-year roadmap focused on commercialising British fashion and supporting long-term industry growth. As part of the strategy, the BFC is set to implement the Fashion Britain initiative at the upcoming London Fashion Week in September, broadening the reach of the event throughout the country.

Cooper’s appointment reflects the organisation’s further ambitions to strengthen its influence among government and policymakers. She has been tasked with helping to “champion the strategic importance of the sector”, a mission that has been amplified under Laura Wier, who stepped into the chief executive officer role last year.

Cooper will be joined by Caroline Issa, the chief executive officer of Tank magazine, who is stepping into the newly created role of deputy chair. Issa will bring to the role her expertise and relationships across the global industry, as well as her connection to the designer community associated with the BFC.

Pemsel commented that the development of board appointments reflects the “importance of bringing together the right people” to deliver BFC 2030. “The mix of expertise represents the diversity and ambition in the strategy and our commitment to support, defend and promote British fashion. The appointment of Pavita as chair directly delivers on the need to supercharge the organisation's ability to engage with government and support the industry with its policy work and access to investment,” he continued.