Rodney Arthur Fitch,

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(19 August 1938 – 20 October 2014) was an English designer. He founded the design company Fitch in 1972, and rejoined it as

chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...

and

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

in 2004. He was appointed

Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) in 1990 for his 'influence on the British Design Industry'. Fitch died of cancer on 20 October 2014, at the age of 76.

Background

Fitch had a successful career in design which allowed him to be active in the development of design education and the arts in the United Kingdom. At the time of his death he held the title of Senior Governor of the University of the Arts, located in London. Fitch was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 for his influence on the British design industry.

Experience

Fitch had the following experience: *trustee of the

Victoria & Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (abbreviated V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen ...

*Chairman of V & A Enterprises *member of the Design Council *A member of the Council of the

Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public university, public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City, London, White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design uni ...

*President of the Designers and Art Directors Association *President of Chartered Society of Designers

References

1938 births Deaths from cancer in England Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English interior designers English industrial designers Product design 2014 deaths Place of birth missing Academic staff of Willem de Kooning Academy 20th-century English businesspeople {{design-bio-stub