The Consumer Goods Forum, an industry body that aims to drive sustainability through the consumer goods industry, has appointed an Asia Pacific specialist as its new managing director.
Dr Wai-Chan Chan takes on the role, bringing 25 years of experience into the job, mainly in retail with Dairy Farm, where he was North Asia director. He has also worked at consultancies McKinsey & Company, C&C Strategy Consultants, and Oliver Wyman, where he is currently senior partner and co-leader of the retail and consumer goods practice.
Chan will succeed outgoing MD Peter Freedman on 1 June. Freedman, who said that leading the CGF is “one of the best jobs in the world”, makes way after six years in the job.
Chan said in a statement that he has seen “the power and potential” of CGF to be a force for good, and while progress has been made, “there is still a great deal to be achieved.”
One challenge the Consumer Good Forum faces is weeding out deforestation from the supply chains of its members, which include more than 400 retailers, manufacturers, and service providers across 70 countries. In 2010, CGF members made a joint pledge to be deforestation-free by 2020. But that pledge has been missed, as commodities such as soy, palm oil, paper and pulp, timber and beef have proved too difficult to manage sustainably.
