Amanda Archila joins Fairtrade America as new Executive Director

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2023 – Fairtrade America, the world’s most recognized label for social justice and sustainability, is pleased to announce that Amanda Archila has today joined the organization as Executive Director. Archila comes to Fairtrade America with more than 15 years of experience working in a range of industries, from natural food to e-commerce retail and consumer electronics. Archila also brings an extensive fair trade advocacy background and passion for the organization.

In her new position, Archila will support Fairtrade America as the organization enters an exciting chapter of growth marked by increased consumer awareness of the Fairtrade Mark and the impact it has on farming communities worldwide. According to the 2021 biennial Fairtrade Consumer Insights report conducted by Globescan, 41% of Americans recognize the Fairtrade Mark, an increase of almost 50% from 2019. Furthermore, trust in the Mark has also increased, with 57% of Americans agreeing they trust the Mark, up 48% from 2019.

Archila’s new role with Fairtrade America is a true full circle moment. After dedicating much of her undergraduate time as a student activist for the fair trade movement, including serving as an Oxfam America CHANGE Leader in 2005, Archila supported the development and launch of a domestic fair trade certification in India with cotton farming cooperatives. Archila then returned to the U.S. and spent five years in marketing and sales roles within Divine Chocolate, a leading Fairtrade company co-owned by cocoa farmers. During her tenure at Divine, she was inspired to earn her MBA from Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, which helped prepare Archila to pivot to retail vendor management at Amazon, where she held a variety of senior leadership roles across multiple business units.

As a result of her comprehensive background in both the private sector and advocacy communities, Archila has a strong understanding of the role each stakeholder plays in the fair trade movement. Archila plans to leverage this expertise to deepen Fairtrade America’s retailer relationships; strengthen licensee partnerships in key categories; and increase consumer awareness of the impact of choosing Fairtrade products so that they further advocate for those options at the point of purchase.

“Amanda’s wealth of relevant experience throughout the supply chain, combined with her passion for Fairtrade, will be invaluable for the future of this movement in the U.S.,” said Dan Arnett, Chair of Fairtrade America’s Board of Directors. “We look forward to Amanda’s contributions and leadership as we continue to further engage with our retail and brand partners and consumers to change the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions, and a fairer deal for farmers and workers.”

Fairtrade America is the U.S. chapter of Fairtrade International, which has been ranked as the gold standard for certifications by an independent monitoring group in the Reference Guide to Fair Trade and Worker Welfare Programs. Nearly 2 million farmers and workers in 70+ countries follow the Fairtrade Standards. Now more than ever, there is a need to promote fairer trading conditions, and in turn promote gender equality, build resilience to climate change and support worker’s rights.

“My history with the fair trade movement has fueled my passion for supporting farmers and workers, including ensuring they can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods and have meaningful representation at each level of decision making,” said Archila. “I am honored to join the talented team at Fairtrade America and to support the organization as it builds on its legacy as the globally most recognized and most trusted ethical label in the world. The future has never been brighter for Fairtrade America, and I am dedicated to keeping the bar high for Fairtrade certification and creating a fairer future for and with farmers and workers.”

In addition to Archila’s professional achievements, she also proudly serves on the Forté Alumni Leadership Council, a group of recent MBA alumni dedicated to furthering Forté’s mission of advancing women. The council is focused on supporting Forté’s post-MBA network as they navigate their careers.

Archila is based in Washington, which also serves as the headquarters for the Fairtrade America team.