Burke to Step Down as AAFA’s President and CEO

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) announced that Kevin M. Burke will step down as president and CEO, effective Jan. 21, 2014. Following today’s announcement, the AAFA Board of Directors will begin the process to identify a new President and CEO as quickly as possible.

“For nearly 13 years, Kevin has been a passionate champion for the U.S. apparel and footwear industry and it’s more than four million American workers,” said AAFA Chairman Philip C. Williamson, president, CEO and chairman of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company. “Our industry has changed significantly since Kevin came to AAFA in 2001. He brought a much-needed global vision to AAFA and travelled the world meeting with industry stakeholders to keep American workers competitive in the global market.”

Under Burke’s leadership, AAFA has grown its membership to include more than 530 corporate members representing more than 1,500 world famous name brands. At the same time, more than 25 percent of AAFA’s membership is now related to retail, which is a dynamic shift from AAFA’s long history as a manufacturing and wholesale organization.
“For the past several years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve a very dynamic industry as its top spokesperson in Washington,” said Burke. “The key lessons I’ve learned during my years at AAFA are that the U.S. apparel and footwear industry is always moving forward and that the industry must maintain its global perspective to remain competitive. I will miss not being part of the day-to-day excitement of making it easier for Americans to get dressed each day, as well as working with the dedicated team at AAFA who made me a better association leader every day.”