International Cotton Association (ICA) has elected Eimear McDonagh, director of Hang Tung Resources, as its new president, with a focus on strengthening global industry connections, advancing sustainability and promoting cotton as a natural fibre.
The new leadership team was elected at the association’s annual general meeting during its Istanbul 2026 trade event earlier this month, according to an ICA announcement on October 19.
New Leadership Team
McDonagh will be supported by Raymond Faus, chairman of Omnicotton, as first vice-president, and Ismail Nohutlu, owner of Nipas Textile, as second vice-president.
Pierre Chehab, head of Cotton Europe and Black Sea at Louis Dreyfus Company, becomes immediate past president, while Chris Williams, partner at Liverpool Cotton Brokers, continues as treasurer.
Ertuğrul Tanriverdi, director of Ensar Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret, returns as an ordinary director. Bharat Desai, adviser for cotton at Arvind Limited, and Ryan Cucci, director of USA-Cotton at Bunge USA Agriculture, join as regional directors.
The 19-member board represents the ICA’s global membership across the cotton supply chain.
McDonagh Emphasises Global Collaboration
“Our ICA has an extraordinary history. We should be proud of it, grateful to those who built it and ambitious about what we hand to the next generation,” McDonagh said.
She described cotton as a fibre that connects countries, cultures and generations, stressing the importance of stronger relationships across the global industry.
Her priorities include creating opportunities for collaboration, sharing knowledge and contributing to a stronger future for cotton.
Three Decades of Cotton Industry Experience
McDonagh brings around 30 years of experience in the Australian cotton industry, covering lint sales, trade finance and export supply-chain management.
She has served on the boards of the Australian Cotton Shippers Association and the Australian Peak Shippers Association. She is also a founding member of Women in Cotton, an initiative promoting diversity and women’s participation in the global cotton industry.
As the ICA’s representative on the Merchants Committee of the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s Private Sector Advisory Committee, she also supports knowledge sharing and innovation.
McDonagh aims to connect global buyers with sustainable, traceable cotton supply chains and promote cotton’s contribution to the textile and apparel industries.
Her presidency will focus on connecting the industry, strengthening collaboration and supporting the long-term future of cotton as a natural fibre.
