After the Vietnamese forum, Kascar said Brown will resign on July 31, a decision made by “personal choice”.
“Colin’s stable leadership played a role in stabilizing and re-focusing cascale,” said Board Chairman Tamar Hoek. “He laid a solid foundation for what’s ahead and we are deeply grateful for his contribution.”
The leadership transition is because Cascale enters a period of clarity and momentum. Over the past 12 months, the organization has developed a bold new impact strategy that deepens engagement with global manufacturers, buys better buying assets, and conducts advanced key work on decarbonization across the industry. The organization says these priorities — plus membership values and partnerships — are still firmly present.
A global search for Brown’s successor is currently underway. During this time, the organization will maintain its strategic curriculum while senior leaders continue to carry out key priorities without pause.
Cascale recently held a forum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, attended by more than 600 manufacturers, leading brands, service providers and supply chain partners to address urgent challenges and opportunities in the consumer product value chain.
In the Cascale Vietnam event, the themes spanned industry decarbonization, trade shifts, regulatory changes, facility improvements, responsible contracts, workers’ rights, and more. Discussions are particularly important for Vietnam-based apparel manufacturers, who may face the impact of higher U.S. tariffs when the proposed 46% tariff ends on July 8. A dedicated Vietnamese stage has drawn local expertise and leadership, and the entire program is bilingual to ensure full participation of Vietnamese stakeholders.
Brown opened the event for a joint effort of science-based goals (SBT) by challenging brands and suppliers. “Given the nearest deadline for 2030, setting up SBT without close consultation with the supply chain is unacceptable and irresponsible,” he said. “But with the right viable data and mutual support, there is hope.”
Vu Duc Giang, president of the Vietnam Textile and Clothing Association (VITAS), added: “None of us can be alone – collaborating is the only way,” he said. “When brands, manufacturers, organizations and governments come together and share responsibilities, any goal can be achieved.”
Andrew Martin, executive vice president of Cascale, said during Driving Global Policy: Impact on Procurement Countries and Strategies: “In Europe and America and America, manufacturers are driving a often evolving contradictory maze. But in the Asia Pacific, regulations are quickly becoming a strategy as we are increasingly supporting many countries, so Case gradually strengthens this progressive people to promote this progressive attitude and promote this progressive attitude and announces this unified attitude. The manufacturer can actually actively participate in all three regions to promote practical, consistent and realistic global and regional frameworks rooted in the manufacturer.”
