Liz Hershfield, a renowned authority on sustainable fashion and global supply chain management, has been named the new Executive Director of Cotton Council International (CCI), the National Cotton Council of America’s (NCC) export promotion division. Hershfield takes over from Bruce Atherley, who retired at the end of March.
In a statement, NCC President & CEO Gary Adams highlighted the importance of strong leadership in maintaining the competitiveness of US cotton. “Liz is well poised to enhance COTTON USA™ programs by communicating US cotton’s benefits and expanding opportunities for US cotton growers in the global market,” Adams said.
Hershfield brings extensive expertise in sustainability, product development, global sourcing, and supply chain management, along with a deep familiarity with US cotton. Her leadership is expected to advance CCI’s efforts to position US cotton at the forefront of the textile industry through the COTTON USA™ brand and international initiatives.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Hershfield stated, “There’s never been a more important time to champion US cotton. With a compelling story rooted in quality, innovation, and sustainability, US cotton has earned trust worldwide through reliable COTTON USA™ partnerships. I’m honored to join CCI and work towards increasing demand and preference for US cotton across the global textile supply chain.”
Throughout her career, Hershfield has led supply chain and sustainability initiatives for major brands including J.Crew, Madewell, and Gap Inc. She also founded Green-ish, a consultancy dedicated to helping businesses navigate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges.
Her contributions to sustainable fashion have garnered numerous accolades, including the Textile Exchange Ryan Young Climate+ Award for her pioneering regenerative cotton program supporting US farmers. She has also received The Lead’s “The Direct 60” award and was named to the Rivet 50 Index for her leadership within the denim industry.
As CCI’s Executive Director, Hershfield aims to leverage her extensive experience and commitment to sustainability to elevate the global perception of “The COTTON USA™ Difference,” emphasising the superior quality of US cotton and fostering strong partnerships across the textile supply chain worldwide. This can help Bangladesh and US trade relations since Bangladesh is looking to have a greater amount of US cotton for its garment manufacturing purposes.
