The British Fashion Council has recently announced that 39 year-old Stephanie Phair will be its new chair, replacing Dame Natalie Massenet, who stepped down from the role in December.
Phair is the youngest person to ever be appointed into the role and, while her name may be not be as immediately familiar as Massenet’s, her influence in the global fashion industry is not to be underestimated. In fact, you could consider her to be a protege of both the Net-a-Porter founder, and another of fashion’s most powerful businesswomen, US Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Currently the chief strategy officer for Farfetch and an independent board director for Moncler SpA. Phair’s experience covers the realms of fashion business, PR, marketing, technology and entrepreneurialism - a potent mix for someone who is set to lead the sector through an era of fluctuating economic situations and Brexit trade negotiations, and one where the internet is changing the way all types of fashion businesses are run.
Dame Natalie Massenet stepped down as Chairman in December 2017, following a successful five-year term in which she led the organisation to focus its activities through strategic pillars, engage in digital innovation and focus on building the global profile for British fashion.
