Advisory board

Mark has worked in the fashion industry since 1982; starting  in Paris before moving back to the UK and to Sarah Coggles in 1984. Mark was made a Partner in 1997 and became Senior Partner in 2003. Mark is the driving force of Coggles.com, an exceptional business leader and respected figure within fashion retail with high level contacts throughout the industry. He has guided the direction of the website, visuals and brand profile to multi award winning levels. 

The UK Fashion & Textile Association promotes, encourages, supports and connects companies from the entire sector, making it by far the most inclusive of all fashion and textile industry bodies. Having joined UKFT in January this year after a 30-year career as a trade journalist, Eric Musgrave has been chief executive since May. 

Lauretta joined WGSN in 2009 to re-launch the newly designed portfolio of offerings and spearheaded the launch of the WGSN Global Fashion Awards. Prior to WGSN, she was editor of UK fashion trade bible Drapers where she launched the magazine’s first content-led website and the highly successful Drapers Etail Awards. Prior to Drapers, Lauretta spent ten years with business publisher Haymarket where she was editor-in-chief of its print group. She has twice been named in the annual “Online Fashion 100” list of the most influential individuals in the UK.

Andy Rubin, MA MBA, is CEO of Pentland Brands plc, a UK based private, family owned company started in the 1930’s with a single shoe shop. Andy is the third generation to lead the family business. He joined the Group in 1991, was appointed to the Main Board as Marketing Director in 1995 and appointed CEO in 1998.

Peter Ruis began his career in high street fashion back in 1989 when he gained a place on Marks & Spencer’s graduate trainee programme.

Michael Sharp was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in November 2008. From 1997 to 2004, Mr Sharp was Trading Director of Debenhams Limited and was appointed its Chief Operating Officer in January 2004 and then Chief Operating Officer of the Company in May 2006.

Tillman is the man behind the revival of Jaeger, and the re-energising of London Fashion Week, which has seen designers returning back to the UK in their droves.

Peter Williams has spent over 20 years in a variety of executive positions in the retail industry spanning department stores, ecommerce, duty-free, sportswear and mail order.