Rita Clifton

Rita Ann Clifton CBE (born 30 January 1958) is a British advertising professional and a former chair of Interbrand, who currently works as a speaker, facilitator, writer, and non-executive director of a portfolio of companies.

Clifton has been called 'The doyenne of branding' by Campaign Magazine, 'Brand guru' by the Financial Times, and the Daily Telegraph described her as 'The brand leading the brands'.

Early life Rita Clifton was born in High Wycombe. Her childhood ambition was to be a ballet dancer. Her father died when she was 12. She holds a number of non-executive directorships at companies such as Bupa Nationwide Building Society, and ASOS.com. She has been Chairman of Populus Ltd, President of the Market Research Society. on the Sustainable Development Commission and as chair of the community volunteering organisation TCV (The Conservation Volunteers).

Clifton previously served as a non-executive director of Dixons Retail from 2002 to 2012.

In November 2020, international sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future announced that she joined the organisation as chair of the board of trustees.

In December 2020, it was announced she joined The John Lewis Partnership in February 2021 as deputy chairman.

Publications The Future of Brands: Twenty-Five Visions, , 208pp, 31 March 2000, New York University Press The Economist: Brands and Branding , , 304pp, 19 March 2009, Economist Books Love Your Imposter: Be your best self, flaws and all, , 288pp, 10 September 2020, Kogan Page

Personal life Clifton met Brian Astley, the father of her two daughters, Alexandra, born November 1987, and Elizabeth, born April 1991, while they were working together on the Rowntree account at Saatchi. The couple married in August 1999 in Kensington and Chelsea.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph in September 2002, Clifton described herself as the most senior woman to have a baby at Saatchi, and said she was back at her desk 10 weeks after giving birth. "I felt obliged to pretend that it had had absolutely no impact whatsoever," she said. "I did want to come back to work, but probably not that soon."

Clifton was appointed a CBE in the 2014 New Year Honours list.