Out of fashion – Lady Judge shelves new business plan
BARBARA JUDGE has put plans to launch a homewares and fashion business on the backburner after quitting the Institute of Directors amid allegations of bullying, racism and sexism.
Lady Judge – known for her pie-crust collar shirts and bespoke tailored skirt suits – had been in the early stages of launching a fashion and soft furnishing company with the possible name of Lady Barbara.
The 71-year-old businesswoman registered Lady Barbara as a trademark for a range of goods including luggage, handbags, cushion covers, bedspreads, shoes, hats and curtains.
Her planned new business had the backing of two Chinese partners – Hua Xia, based in Beijing, and Tengbo Yang, a director of the UKChina Business Leaders Club. The partners each own 40 per cent of the business and Lady Judge owns 20 per cent.
Lady Judge resigned as chair of the bosses’ organisation, the IoD, earlier this month after law firm Hill Dickinson filed a report accusing her of more than 40 episodes of unreasonable behaviour.
She has since been suspended as a trustee of charity Dementia UK and has stepped down as a fundraiser for Historic Royal Palaces. Lady Judge has also quit the boards of the Royal Academy and tech start-up Hibob.
The University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where she is a visiting fellow, has put her position under review.
Lady Judge strongly denies the IoD allegations.