Cotton Board Names Bev Sylvester as New Chief Marketing Officer for Cotton Incorporated
Chief Marketing Officer, Cotton Incorporated
Image provided by the Cotton Board
The Cotton Board has announced Bev Sylvester as the new Chief Marketing Officer for Cotton Incorporated, a move aimed at strengthening cotton’s market position and driving long-term demand growth. In her new role, Sylvester will “oversee marketing strategy, brand positioning, consumer engagement and global outreach efforts” to build increased demand for cotton across domestic and international markets.
Sylvester brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and brand leadership across apparel, consumer goods, textiles, and branded materials. Her background spans multiple segments of the fiber industry, giving her a comprehensive understanding of how fiber decisions influence supply chains, brand strategies, and consumer perceptions.
William Kimbrell, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated, highlighted the value of Sylvester’s experience, stating, “Bev brings a clear understanding of how fiber and material choices influence outcomes across the value chain and how those decisions ultimately shape market confidence and demand. Her experience at the fiber level, paired with her work with brands and retailers, strengthens our ability to engage decision-makers at the points that matter most and support long-term demand for cotton.”
Most recently, Sylvester served in a leadership role at Unifi Manufacturing, Inc., where she led marketing efforts for REPREVE, a recycled polyester fiber widely used in home goods and apparel. Her work focused on building adoption and preference at the fiber level through collaboration with mills, manufacturers, designers, sourcing teams, and retailers. That experience positions her well to address today’s increasingly complex fiber marketplace.
Sylvester emphasized the evolving dynamics influencing fiber selection, saying, “Fiber choice is shaped by performance requirements, sustainability expectations, and increasing transparency across the supply chain. I look forward to working across the value chain — from sourcing and manufacturing through brand, retail and consumer engagement — to ensure that cotton’s strong value-based proposition and fiber benefits are clearly understood and connected to the decision-makers and end users who ultimately drive demand.”
As Cotton Incorporated continues its mission to increase demand for cotton, leadership sees Sylvester’s appointment as a strategic step forward. Her combination of fiber-level expertise, brand-building experience, and understanding of sustainability and transparency trends is expected to strengthen cotton’s position in an increasingly competitive global fiber market.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.