Julia Carrick

Julia Carrick

Chief Executive, Walpole; Publisher and Founder, How To Spend It

Julia Carrick began her career at the BBC World Service. In 1985 she joined the Financial Times where she now combines her role with that of Chief Executive of Walpole.
Julia has successfully launched important businesses in the luxury goods industry. Achievements include founding the award-winning How To Spend It magazine where as Publisher she continues to be involved with its development and franchise, and the founding of Walpole. As Chief Executive, Julia is responsible for the development of Walpole and championing the British Luxury Industry. Under her leadership Walpole membership has risen to over 180 of the greatest British brands and cultural institutions and is now Europe’s largest membership organisation representing luxury businesses. She has also introduced sections within the FT Weekend such as the well established Collecting and Fashion pages together with reports such as Watches and Jewellery. Julia has an extensive knowledge of the luxury goods sector with a wide circle of contacts.

As Walpole’s Chief Executive, Julia has helped establish a number of member-led working groups to provide additional strength to Walpole’s industry leadership position. Brands of Tomorrow and Crafted nurture the creative and entrepreneurial talent of the future through providing mentorship to British luxury brands of the future and craftspeople. Walpole has recently partnered with the London Business School on a new business plan competition initiative encouraging the brightest and best business school graduates to follow careers in the luxury goods sector.

Julia also undertakes lobbying and consultation work with the UK Government and the EU. This has become an increasingly important aspect of Walpole’s remit. She represents the interests of the British luxury industry on a variety of important consultations on competitiveness and innovation, the cultural and creative industries and electronic commerce. Julia works closely with our French, Italian, German and Spanish counterparts - Comité Colbert, Altagamma, Meisterkreis and Circulo Fortuny - under the newly formed European Creative and Cultural Industries Alliance.  She also meets with Commissioners, BIS, OFT and Number 10 thus ensuring that the British luxury industry’s position is understood, valued and protected. More recently she has joined a task force headed up by Lord Adonis.