Fellowship for british hairdressing announces new president and executive board

Robert Eaton has been welcomed as the new President for the Fellowship for British Hairdressing at a star-studded event in London on Monday 11 April. Ken Picton, who has led the organisation for the past three years, handed over the reins to British Hairdresser of the Year, Robert Eaton in front of industry peers at the President’s Night. Held at the Brewery in East London, Ken relived some of his favourite times as President and the challenges brought with the pandemic. But before he could leave there were a few surprises – he brought his 'Drinks with the President' live to the stage with some of his favourite guests including Sally Brooks, Mark Woolley and Michael Douglas, while a video highlighted just some of the things he has implemented during his reign. The F.A.M.E team presented their first show, Evolution. Alex Cook, Darrel Starkey, Jessica Hau and Lydia Wolfe gave a showcase of their skills learnt so far this year, with stunning 5ft colourful ponytails, precision cuts and dynamic shapes. Did you catch the finalists? Be sure to check them out here. Ken recalled: “When I took over as President in 2019 we had no idea what was ahead of us. But we have worked hard to modernise the Fellowship for a new era of hairdressing. It’s been a privilege to lead the Fellowship through these turbulent times and I look forward to being part of the future.” Receiving his regalia, Robert added: “Today is very special for me, when I started my journey in the family business it was about networking and making friends. My whole career has been shaped by the Fellowship; I was part of the 2003 F.A.M.E. Team which was incredibly special and instilled in me the importance of nurturing the next generation. Now, it’s my time to give back and help young people in this industry. I want to work with as many people as possible to evolve the industry and continue the heritage the Fellowship has always had.”

Executive Board

Following its 75^th anniversary, the Fellowship for British Hairdressing has unveiled its plans for the next 75 years to come – with new initiatives, a new direction and new faces to lead it into the future. With President Robert Eaton at the helm, the Fellowship is embracing the diversity of the industry, the challenges it faces and the opportunities available with the launch of its Executive Board, Fellowship members who have come together to share ideas, inspirations and determination to take the British hairdressing industry to new levels. Each member not only brings a wealth of experience, but will also be responsible for driving the Fellowship forward. Robert explains: “The launch of our dedicated Executive Board is about recognising the great work that has already been done, celebrating our heritage and driving the Fellowship forward in a fresh and modern way.”

On the board:

• Simon Shaw
• Robert Eaton
• Nick Irwin
• Michelle Griffin
• Ken Picton
• Karoliina Saunders
• Colin McAndrew
• Barry Stephens
• Ashleigh Hodges
• Andreas Stavrou