| Birth Date: | July 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Years Active: | 1992–present |
| 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. 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. She started Manchester-based PR agency Crush Communications in 2002,[7] and became managing director.[8] 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.
Rush was appointed British Fashion Council joint chief executive in March 2009.[9] [10] As joint Chief Executive, she oversaw the Council’s move into Somerset House in 2009.[11] 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] [12] 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".[13]
Caroline is currently represented by talent & rights management agency Kruger Cowne.[14]
Rush lives in Wimbledon.[15] Her husband Matthew is a physical education teacher[16] and former professional footballer for West Ham, Norwich and Oldham. Their daughter Lana competed in junior Wimbledon 2012 and 2013.[17] [18]
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.[19]