Richard Bradbury

British retailer (born 1956)

Richard Edward Bradbury CBE (born 4 February 1956), is a British retailer who was chief executive of River Island (2008–2011),[1] the high street fashion brand founded by Bernard Lewis with worldwide annual sales in excess of US$1 billion.[2]

## Early life

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Bradbury was born on 4 February 1956, the son of Albert and Lily Bradbury.[1] He grew up in Bedfordshire and was educated at Bedford Modern School and Luton Polytechnic.[1]

## Career

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Bradbury began his retailing career at Barnaby Rudge (1975–76) before becoming a merchandiser for Harry Fenton Menswear (1977–1979).[1] After Harry Fenton he joined the Burton Group in 1979, initially as a merchandiser (1979–81) but later as a buyer becoming buying director (1986–1989).[1]

In 1989 Bradbury joined River Island, the private high street fashion brand founded by Bernard Lewis, as managing director of Womenswear (1989–1998), group managing director (1998–2007) and finally chief executive (2008–11).[1] At the time he was the only non-family member to hold a senior post at the company.[3] When Bradbury left the business he was reputedly paid £15m.[4]

Bradbury was made CBE in 2008[1] for services to the retail industry.[5] He is currently a non-executive director of Boden.[1]

## Charitable work

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Bradbury has been a patron of Scope since 2012 and is chairman of the appeal board.[1] He worked with the NHS on its Patient Revolution Initiative in 2012 and was awarded a Beacon Fellowship for Pioneering Philanthropy in 2013.[1][6]

## Family life

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Bradbury married Susan Price in 1981 and they have two daughters.

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Bradbury, Richard Edward, (born 4 Feb. 1956), Chief Executive, River Island, 2008–11; non-executive Director, Boden, since 2012". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2008. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U246808. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4.
2. ^ UK Companies House
3. ^ [1] The Observer, 19 August 2007
4. ^ [2] The Telegraph, 13 November 2011
5. ^ [3] The Gazette, 29 December 2007
6. ^ [4][usurped] Beacon Awards