Esther Verburg is working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as a fractional Executive Lead for its Fashion and Textiles mission.
Nearly a decade after publishing A New Textiles Economy, the Foundation is looking to align fashion industry leaders behind fewer, bigger bets to scale circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. solutions and drive market transformation. Esther’s mandate will be to shape this next chapter for the Foundation’s Fashion and Textiles mission with the team over the coming year.
Esther brings more than 20 years of experience in profit and non-profit organisations to the role. She built the Tommy Hilfiger fashion brand into a global frontrunner in sustainability at PVH, where she was appointed EVP for Circular Business and Innovation. Esther will continue her strategic advisory and supervisory roles at Accelerating Circularity, Systemiq, and several investment companies.
Esther said:
“I’ve admired the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s work for many years, and it’s exciting to be joining the team at such an important moment. As we move from setting out a vision to implementing it, my focus will be on connecting our Fashion and Textiles mission agenda, collaborative action across the industry, and our policy work. This is where real systems change will happen, and I’m looking forward to working with everyone who shares that ambition to make it happen.”
Welcoming Esther to the team, the Foundation’s CEO, Joe Murphy, said:
“We are thrilled to have Esther join us. Our plans for the fashion industry are ambitious, and delivering them needs someone who has driven change at scale from inside a global business. Esther has done exactly that. Her experience and ability to bring together actors who shape the system will be central to building a shared, impactful agenda for our Fashion and Textiles mission.”
