The former chief executive of Jimmy Choo is about to start a multimillion-pound spending spree in which he will invest in “isolated” British fashion brands and take them on to the international stage.

Robert Bensoussan, who stepped down from the ready-to-wear shoe business in June, said that he was considering several possible partners, from luxury brands to high street retailers.

“I’ve had a long holiday, but now I’m looking at a number of deals,” he said. “I think there are a lot companies in this country that have a lot of potential, and not only luxury goods but the high street as well.”

His comments came a month after Mr Bensoussan returned to the world of luxury goods by taking a 15 per cent stake in Bremont, a fledgeling British watchmaker, alongside Jim Sharp, a business partner, and John Ayton, the co-founder of the jeweller Links of London. It marked his first venture since stepping down from Jimmy Choo after overseeing its global expansion in the past six years.

Bremont was set up three years ago by the brothers Nick and Giles English. Their watches cost between £1,950 and £2,950 and at present are on sale only in Britain in Harrods, Selfridges and the Watch Gallery. This week the Spanish-born Mr Bensoussan will undertake to establish the brand in the United States by trying to tie up with the upmarket department stores Barneys New York and Bergdorf-Goodman.

He said: “It’s just ridiculous that this country does not have a famous watch brand. Somehow, UK brands have not been developed in the way they deserve to be. They are perhaps isolated, insulated and maybe think the UK is enough. There has to be a change of mentality.”

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