Damian Hopkins named in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours List with a CBE for services to retail
11 months ago
Damian Hopkins, founder and CEO of PDS Radius Brands and executive director of PDS Ltd, has been awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), in King Charles III’s inaugural Birthday Honours List. The official announcement made by the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty on Saturday 17th June 2023 cites the accolade in recognition of Damian’s services to the retail and fashion sector. Being awarded a CBE is the highest-ranking order of the British Empire Award, excluding a knighthood or damehood.
Damian’s career in retail and fashion spans over 25 years, in which time he has innovated in the retail, brand and licensing sectors. His business was one of the early adopters of sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes, and Damian actively promotes British retailers and brands internationally.
As well as a long track record in the industry, Damian has also given a great deal back supporting the retail and fashion industries being closely involved with the Retail Trust charity for over a decade. He chaired the Fundraising Committee from 2018 to 2019 and was instrumental in launching the Mentoring and Ambassador programmes for people in retail and to raise awareness of the charity. Damian is also Retail Ambassador for the licensing sustainability organisation Products of Change and is the current President of The Twenty Club, the retail dining club founded in 1897. Damian also served on the council for the National Childrenswear Association during the 1990s and early 2000s.
On receiving the honour Damian commented: “I feel profoundly honoured, humbled and frankly blown away to be recognised with a CBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List. The retail and fashion sector covers millions of people and I see this honour as recognition of the many people, companies, factories, partners, and brands that I have had the pleasure of working with over the years around the world, and what we have all achieved together.”
Damian continues: “I have also enjoyed giving my time to organisations such as The Twenty Club, the National Children’s Wear Association, Products of Change and of course The Retail Trust with whom I have long been a supporter. The retail charity has been at the heart of the retail sector since 1832 and helps some of most vulnerable in the industry but also supports with education, mentoring, well-being and even offers retail workers amazing retirement estates throughout the country.”
“I will use this honour to continue raising awareness for workers in the retail sector. The retail and fashion industry is a wonderful community of incredibly passionate, dedicated creative people and I feel blessed to be part of it. My huge thanks go to everyone who has worked with me in whatever capacity over the years and to those who have supported, encouraged and inspired me including my friends and family.” Concludes Damian.
For more information about Damian Hopkins visit www.pdsradiusbrands.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Notes to editors
All media enquiries including interview requests please contact:
Kate Davies at PDS Radius Brands kate@pdsradiusbrands.com +44 (0)7511 917 187
Amber Reilly at Amber Reilly Communications amber@amberreilly.com +44 (0)7956 124 836
About Damian Hopkins, Founder and CEO of PDS Radius Brands/Executive Director PDS Ltd
Damian Hopkins is a respected, and highly accomplished entrepreneur and business leader who has operated within the global retail, brands and licensing industry for over 25 years, having founded, built, and sold three successful businesses in the sector. Damian’s career encompasses manufacturing, wholesale, retail, licensing, international franchising, and eCommerce, with a proven track record of launching, repositioning, and transforming consumer and celebrity brands. His work has generated over £1bn in retail revenue and has been recognised via business awards in the fields of licensing, retail, and fashion supply. Damian was an early adopter of sustainable and ethical sourcing, and one of the first to launch a fully accredited end to end ‘Fairtrade Cotton’ supply chain supplying major UK retailers back in 2008. As a director of Matalan he spearheaded the international retail roll out, opening stores across 15 countries. Damian has also worked with numerous talent creating licensed apparel collections for British pop acts back in the early 00s for SCLUB 7, Atomic Kitten to Robbie Williams and through to the Kardashians. Damian is an independent non exec director of ITIM PLC (Lon) a unified retail platform business.
As well as leading PDS Radius Brands, Damian Hopkins supports the retail industry extensively with voluntary roles including:
The Retail Trust Charity, Chair of Ambassadors: charity, founded in 1832, supporting the health, hope, happiness and wellbeing of British retail workers. Additionally, Damian served on the fundraising committee from 2016, and as Chairman of the fundraising committee from 2018/19. In 2019, Damian launched the Retail Trust’s elevator mentoring programme in memory of the late Don McCarthy CBE. www.retailtrust.org.uk
The Twenty Club, President: exclusive retail dinning club, established in 1897, supporting retail fellowship for senior retail brand owners and execs. As the current club President Damian hosted the 125th Anniversary Dinner in 2022 with guest of honour Bernard Lewis CBE founder and owner of River Island. www.thetwentyclub.co.uk
Products of Change, Retail Ambassador 2022-2023; POC is driving sustainable change across consumer licensed products. www.productsofchange.com
National Childrenswear Association, Committee Member for over 10 years, 1994-2005; supporting the childrenswear sector. www.ncwa.co.uk
Speaker, judge, and panellist surrounding brand development, sustainability, international expansion, and licensing at international events, including:
Retail Summit Dubai
MAPIC Cannes
Drapers Fashion Forum
Drapers Retail Awards
About PDS Radius Brands
PDS Radius Brands, part of the PDS Group ( www.pdsltd.com ), is a fashion, home and talent brand specialist offering design, product development, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, licensing and global distribution for major brands, retailers, and talent worldwide. The business offers a bespoke end-to-end brand management and outsourcing solution, engaging dedicated talent and infrastructure for brands and retailers; with a proven track record of success, developing, growing, and pivoting brands. PDS Radius Brands works with internationally admired brands, retailers, talent, and licensees, crafting profitable partnerships that also add real brand value across both the value and luxury sectors. The company also actively invests in and acquires brands to support founders to reach their vision, enabling them to focus on what they are good at. www.pdsradiusbrands.com
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