Roger Saul is the founder of Mulberry, one of Britain’s most recognisable luxury fashion houses, and a powerful example of what long-term vision, resilience, and creativity can achieve. He launched the business in 1971 with a £500 family loan, building it from a small Somerset workshop into an internationally respected brand known for craftsmanship, heritage, and enduring style. Over more than 30 years as Founder, Chairman and CEO, Roger led Mulberry through periods of growth, global expansion, and shifting consumer expectations, while staying true to quality and design integrity. His experience at the highest level of British retail gives him exceptional credibility when speaking to leaders, founders, and organisations navigating change.
During his time at Mulberry, Roger oversaw major milestones that shaped the modern British luxury sector. Under his leadership, the brand expanded across Europe and Japan, launched full men’s and women’s collections, and diversified into homeware and fragrance. Mulberry Home went on to win a Queen’s Award for Export, one of three Queen’s Awards associated with his ventures. In 1996, Roger took the company public on the AIM stock exchange, a defining moment that required strategic clarity and resilience. He later went on to develop Charlton House Hotel, which achieved a Michelin star in its first year, and Kilver Court Designer Village, later recognised as UK Retail Shopping Centre of the Year, further cementing his reputation as a multi-sector brand builder.
In 2003, Roger made a decisive and highly unconventional shift, stepping away from fashion to focus on sustainability and land regeneration. He transformed Sharpham Park into a pioneering organic and regenerative farming estate, becoming the founder of Sharpham Park, a business that redefined how farming, food production, and environmental responsibility can work together. Roger led the estate to become the UK’s leading producer of organic spelt for many years, supplying major national retailers, while also championing ancient grains and biodiversity. More recently, his work has focused on British-grown organic walnuts, positioning them as a future-facing crop with long-term value for food security and soil health.
As a motivational speaker, Roger brings a rare depth of perspective shaped by success, loss, reinvention, and purpose-led leadership. He speaks openly about building and scaling businesses, being forced to start again, and redefining success over a lifetime. Audiences connect with his honesty, clarity, and ability to translate complex experience into practical insight. Roger’s talks inspire leaders and entrepreneurs to think long-term, act with integrity, and embrace change with confidence, drawing on lessons from luxury, hospitality, retail, and regenerative agriculture to show how values-driven thinking creates lasting impact.
