LONDON, Dec. 29,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- M&C Saatchi is delighted to
announce that the CEO of its communications agency, M&C Saatchi
Talk, Jane Boardman, has been
awarded an OBE for her services to fashion and beauty.
Over the past 15 years, Jane has played a crucial and pivotal
role in raising the profile and demonstrating the significant
contribution of the British fashion and beauty industries to the
UK's economy. The British beauty industry alone is worth £24.5bn to
the UK economy, making a bigger contribution to the UK's GDP than
the creative, arts and entertainment sector, and the aerospace
manufacturing sector. A sector previously ignored now has a voice
and is taken seriously by policy makers.
In 2008, Jane became an adviser to the British Fashion Council
(BFC) and was part of an illustrious team including Dylan Jones
OBE, Harold Tillman CBE, and
Caroline Rush CBE, determined to
transform the fashion industry. Over a decade, the BFC secured
London's place on the global
fashion calendar, brought it closer to the art world via the
creation of the Fashion Arts Foundation, and helped launch London
Men's Fashion Week.
Not content with just raising the profile of the fashion
industry, Jane jointly founded the British Beauty Council with
Millie Kendall OBE, Anna-Marie
Solowij and Kate Shapland,
born out of frustrations that there was no recognition, support or
voice for an industry that employs more than half a million people.
The Council, a not-for-profit organisation, soon set about pushing
for change, tackling the inherent prejudice about an industry that
as Jane says, was perceived as "fluffy and shallow."
Since 2018, the British Beauty Council has become the champion
of the beauty industry and was a particular force during the
pandemic as beauty salons closed their doors. Over the past five
years, it has launched prolific campaigns and initiatives to engage
the highest levels of Government, politicians and business leaders
in discussions around the value of British beauty – not only to the
national economy but also its social and cultural impact on the
nation's population.
Richard Thompson, M&C Saatchi
UK Chair, said: "Jane has been an integral part of the M&C
Saatchi family for more than two decades – not just through her
total dedication to her work but also through the unwavering
support she has given to her colleagues. We are delighted that her
tireless drive to give the beauty and fashion industries the voice
it deserves has been rewarded with this recognition. We are all
very proud of what Jane has achieved."
Marcus Peffers, Group CEO M&C
Saatchi said: "Having known Jane for over 20 years, I have been
witness to her focus and determination to drive change. She has
provided incredible support to the fashion and beauty industries
and I am so happy she has been awarded this honour in recognition
of all she has done for both sectors."
Jane Boardman, who fell in love
with beauty products growing up, spending hours in a pharmacy chain
owned by her parents, said: "Beauty is a wonderful industry. It is
a hugely important part of the British economy and a major
employer. It has breadth and depth of career opportunities spanning
both science and creativity, allows us all to express ourselves,
and solves many personal skin and hair problems. I have been
fortunate to have worked with many incredible and influential
colleagues, notably Millie who is an extraordinary force.
"I am immensely honoured to have been awarded an OBE for my
services to fashion and beauty. I feel privileged to have played a
small role in elevating the work of the leaders of these incredible
industries, particularly Caroline
Rush, Dylan Jones and
Millie Kendall. Both industries
provide the UK with products and services that bring joy to so
many. I will continue to champion the industries I love, supporting
businesses that make a difference and break new boundaries in their
field. I am grateful to those I have worked with on these shared
endeavours and to my M&C Saatchi colleagues for encouraging me
in my pro-bono work."
Jane, who stepped down as chair of the British Beauty Council in
2022, but retains the title of Founding Chair, is CEO of M&C
Saatchi Talk, the communications agency and sits on the board of
the Fragrance Foundation UK.
Notes to Editor
Jane Boardman's official name,
which appears on the Honours List, is Heather Jane Boardman.
Jane's career in brief:
- 2023: Awarded OBE for services to Fashion and
Beauty.
- 2020: Talk merges with M&C Saatchi PR to form
M&C Saatchi Talk, where Jane is CEO.
- 2018: Founds the British Beauty Council with
Millie Kendall, chair from 2019 –
2022.
- 2012: Works with the BFC on Britain Creates, an
initiative to support the cultural Olympiad. The project brought
top British fashion designers and artists together to collaborate
on one-off works of art that embody Olympian values.
- 2012: Helps launch London Collections Men's with Dylan
Jones OBE as Chair.
- 2010: Becomes chair of SERMO, a global network of
communications agencies.
- 2010: Appointed founder and trustee of the BFC
Fashion Arts Foundation – an initiative to inspire and support
fashion and the arts through a series of collaborative
projects.
- 2008: Joins British Fashion Council as a strategy
advisor.
- 2008: Appointed board member of Dance Umbrella (2008 –
2018), the UK's leading festival of contemporary dance.
- 2001: Founds PR agency Talk PR, specialising in
fashion, beauty & luxury lifestyle and part of the M&C
Saatchi Group.
About M&C Saatchi Group
M&C Saatchi Group is a creative company that connects
specialist expertise, fuelled by data, technology and culture, to
help clients navigate, create and lead meaningful change. The Group
operates across five core divisions: Connected Creativity; Passion
Marketing; Global & Social Issues; Brand, Experience &
Innovation; and Performance Media. Headquartered in London, operations span 23 countries with
major hubs in the UK, Europe, US,
Middle East & Africa, Asia
and Australia. M&C Saatchi
Group's two principles, Diversity of Thought and Brutal Simplicity
of Thought, guide how they build teams and solve problems.
It is listed as "M&C Saatchi PLC" (LON: SAA) on the AIM
stock exchange in London.
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