12 May 2023: Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), the non-profit organisation that fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to accelerate impact, has appointed Thomas Tochtermann as Chairman and Thomas Klausen as Vice Chairman. Niels Eskildsen steps down as Chairman after 10 years to pursue new business ventures.

Thomas Tochtermann, Chairman, was formerly Vice Chairman of GFA. Tochtermann has supported the organisation since 2014 and served on the Board of GFA since 2016.  He contributes a wealth of industry insights, having advised international clients in the fashion, luxury and consumer segments for over three decades. He has also been building and leading McKinsey & Company’s global Fashion & Luxury Practice for many years and works directly with key industry players to improve the state of fashion. In his new role, he will oversee that GFA operates in a healthy manner in terms of the organisation, team, funding, strategic objectives, and initiatives that create transformative progress in the industry.

Thomas Klausen, Vice Chairman, has been on the Board of Directors since 2015.  Klausen brings valuable insights of the fashion and textile industry and its challenges. Alongside his role at GFA, he is CEO of Danish Fashion & Textile which represents approximately 400 companies with more than 800 brands in Denmark. In addition to this, Klausen is also the Chairman of the Copenhagen Fashion Week. Previously, Klausen was president of the Tytex Group – a world-leading textiles manufacturer with facilities in Asia, North America and Europe. As Vice Chairman, he will support Tochtermann in assuring the organisation’s governance and compliance and steering the team to continue its activities to inspire, educate and mobilise the industry.

Niels Eskildsen, former Chairman of GFA, decided to step down from his Chairman role after 10 successful years to pursue new business ventures. As Chairman, he played an instrumental role in the development of Global Fashion Agenda and its landmark forum, Global Fashion Summit (formerly known as Copenhagen Fashion Summit). His leadership and guidance helped to place sustainability as a core priority on fashion leaders’ agenda by advising the organisation in the implementation of new forums, thought-leadership publications, impact programmes and advocacy efforts.

Thomas Tochtermann, Chairman, GFA, says: “A big thanks to my friend and long-term companion in GFA´s Board Niels. He has steered the Board and GFA overall in his casual, integrative and thoughtful way successfully over so many years. I am honoured to step in his shoes and very much look forward to work with the Board and GFA´s Management Team led by Federica Marchionni. GFA´s role as the leading global convenor of the Fashion Industry will continue to grow in relevance, in a world where regulation will shape the path of industries towards sustainability more and more, where collaboration amongst all types of players will become a prerequisite to manage and accelerate industry transformation and where setting ambitions and directions for change in companies will become increasingly challenging for senior leaders. Providing thought leadership and platforms to debate will be much needed and is at the core of GFA´s strength. It will be my pleasure to increase GFA´s impact and help to accelerate industry change.”

Thomas Klausen, Vice-Chairman, GFA, says: “It has been a true pleasure working with Niels as a Chairman of GFA throughout the years. GFA has undergone a tremendous development under his guidance, and he will be missed. I look very much forward to working even closer with the Board and the GFA management team as we through collaboration, assist the industry in the transition towards a more sustainable future.”

Federica Marchionni, CEO, Global Fashion Agenda, says: “GFA is extremely grateful for the unwavering support and knowledge that Niels has dedicated to GFA over the past 10 years. He has played a pivotal role in increasing the ambitions of the organisation so that it can make a true impact in the fashion industry. As Thomas Tochtermann and Thomas Klausen adopt their new roles, I look forward to continuing to draw on their sound expertise to shape the path for GFA so we can accelerate the industry’s net positive trajectory.”

Tochtermann and Klausen begin their roles immediately and lead the Board of Directors which includes: Cristiana Falcone, Senior Adviser, World Economic Forum; Harsh Saini, global supply chain expert; Eva Kruse, Chief Global Engagement Officer at PANGAIA; and Peder Michael Pruzan- Jorgensen, Director & Owner of ORCA & Co.