Cotton Council International (CCI), a non-profit trade association whose focus is to represent and promote US cotton overseas, has named Bruce Atherley, as the executive director, effective October 1,2015. Atherley most recently served as the vice president, global marketing for KAO, Inc., a Tokyo-based global manufacturer of personal care and household products. He previously worked with the William Wrigley Jr Company, serving as its vice president of North American Confections Marketing, and as president and general manager of Wrigley Canada. Prior to that, he held the position of vice president of retail marketing for the H.J. Heinz Company, according to a press release. Atherley earned a B.S. in accounting from Bucknell University and a MBA degree from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Administration. NCC president and CEO Gary Adams said, “While new to the cotton industry, Bruce brings an outstanding record of success in global marketing and management. His marketing career has established a track record of introducing brands and products into global markets in Asia, Latin America, and Europe.” CCI is the export promotions arm of the Memphis-based National Cotton Council of America (NCC). Headquartered in Washington, DC, and with a reach extending to more than 50 countries through 17 offices worldwide, CCI uses trade services and consumer promotion activities to increase exports of US cotton fibre, manufactured cotton goods, cottonseed and their products in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central and South America.
