The Campaign for Wool has appointed Ian Maclean MBE, Chairman of UK knitwear manufacturer John Smedley Ltd, as its new Chairman, succeeding Peter Ackroyd MBE, who died unexpectedly in July 2026 after leading the organisation since January 2025.

The appointment, announced on 6 October 2026 in London and Bradford, follows the unanimous endorsement of the Campaign's Funders' Board. It lands during Wool Month, the Campaign's October programme that convenes farmers, manufacturers, designers, brands and retailers across fashion, interiors and artisan products.

Who is the incoming chairman?

Maclean brings manufacturing and retail credentials from the supply chain itself rather than the marketing side of the sector. His track record includes:

• Chairman of family-owned knitwear company John Smedley Ltd, holder of two Royal Warrants
• President of the Sandringham Association of Royal Warrant Holders in 2025, under Patron His Majesty The King
• Chair of The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) from 2022 to 2025
• Director on the board of UKFT, the UK fashion and textiles trade association, for the past 12 years
• Chair of the Textile Committee for The Clothworkers' Company
• An MBE awarded in 2020 for his company's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and services to the UK textile industry

The Funders' Board cited his work spanning manufacturing, fashion and textiles, his use of Commonwealth wool types including Merino and British wools, and his experience across global retail channels, both in-store and online.

What did Maclean say?

Commenting on his appointment, Ian Maclean MBE said: "Wool has such an important role to play in the future of textiles, with its natural, renewable and biodegradable qualities making it increasingly relevant as we seek more sustainable materials and more responsible ways of producing and consuming."

He added: "I look forward to working with our partners and supporters around the world to build on the strong foundations laid by those who have led the Campaign before me, and to continue championing wool for future generations."

How does this affect wool sourcing?

The governance change secures continuity for a Campaign conceived by King Charles III in 2008, when he was Prince of Wales, and formally launched to consumers in 2010. Its remit covers the leading Commonwealth wool-growing sectors in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the British Isles.

For wool supply chains, the appointment signals where the Campaign's emphasis now sits. Wool Month messaging stresses traceability, responsible land management, animal welfare, recycling and circularity — compliance-linked claims that brands adopting wool as a renewable fibre will increasingly need to evidence.

Ackroyd's contribution to the Campaign and the international wool industry spanned more than 50 years. The organisation credits his succession plan with ensuring continuity of governance and a foundation for future development.

For brands and manufacturers weighing wool programmes, the decision is straightforward: a manufacturer-led chairmanship with Royal Warrant pedigree deepens the Campaign's grounding in production-side priorities — traceability, animal welfare and circularity — rather than consumer-facing promotion alone.