HOERNER IS NEW CHAIRMAN OF BFC
Byline: James Fallon
LONDON — The British Fashion Council has named American John Hoerner as its new chairman.
Hoerner is chief executive of The Burton Group PLC, which owns department stores, specialty chains and mail-order companies. He succeeds Clinton Silver, who has been chairman for three years. The job at the BFC is, as always, a part-time commitment and Hoerner continues in his post at Burton Group.
Silver, who took on the job three years ago upon his retirement as deputy managing director at Marks & Spencer, is leaving the council. He is credited with bringing better organization and greater professionalism to the London runway shows during a period when such young designers as Alexander McQueen, Clements Ribeiro, Antonio Berardi and Hussein Chalayan have revitalized interest in British fashion.
Hoerner, 57, has lived in London for the last 10 years after moving from the U.S. to become chairman of the Burton department store chain Debenhams. He turned around that operation and became chief executive of Burton in 1992, overseeing continued growth at Debenhams as well as a return to profits at the group’s specialty chains Dorothy Perkins, Top Shop, Top Man and Principles.
Prior to coming to London, Hoerner was chairman and chief executive at L.S. Ayres & Co. in Indianapolis from 1982 to 1987 and chairman and chief executive of H.& S. Pogue Co. in Cincinnati from 1981 to 1982. He began his retailing career at Hahnes Department Stores in 1959.
“I am very excited at the prospect of taking over the reins at such a challenging time when the eyes of the fashion world are focused on London,” he said in a statement. Hoerner takes over at a time when more international designers are expressing interest in showing in London following the arrival last season of Miu Miu. The fall shows, scheduled for Sept. 26-Oct. 1, could comprise up to 60 designers.
The BFC also announced that Brian Godbold, design director of Marks & Spencer PLC, has been named deputy chairman, succeeding Gerry Saunders, who continues as treasurer. Godbold has been the store group’s design director since 1993. His appointment further underscores the retailer’s association with British fashion; it funds the New Generation Designers show.