A Message From Our CEO

By: Kontoor Brands News Team May 31, 2020 Feature Story

The following message from Kontoor’s CEO, Scott Baxter, was sent earlier today to Kontoor’s global employees.

Team Kontoor,
 
This is a painful time for our country and our world.
 
We witnessed the senseless death of George Floyd, which came on the heels of other recent events – those involving Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Christian Cooper, to name a few – where we saw more hatred and violence against our fellow citizens. The systemic racism in our country, aimed at the African American community or other racial or ethnic groups, is disheartening and abhorrent.  
 
What has already been a challenging time due to the global pandemic, has given way to more concerns and emotions. Many of us are frightened, sad, angered and bewildered by the hatred unfolding across our country.
 
You often hear me talk about the need to ‘take care of one another.’ At Kontoor Brands, we stand for the liberty, dignity and equality of all people. It’s at the heart of who we are, our corporate values, and what our brands stand for. Racism, bigotry and cruelty have not, and will not, be tolerated. Period. 
 
I’m proud of the welcoming, inclusive culture we have created during our first year as Kontoor. But it’s up to each of us to do our part to ensure everyone continues to feel safe, respected and heard, without the fear of judgement or reprisal. We must hold ourselves and each other accountable, and not accept anything less.
 
I wish that we could join together in person to reflect on this moment and have a collective discussion. In honor of the lives lost due to senseless racism, I ask each of you to take a moment of silence on Monday at noon, but also – to think about how each of us can be a positive force for good, equality and inclusion. We must ask ourselves, how can we find more moments, each and every day, to show grace and empathy toward one another? Share your ideas with me, and in the coming weeks, we will continue this important conversation, with each other, our partners and our communities. We will not ignore injustice or inequity.
 
This is just the beginning. We know more must be done.
 
Please, take care of one another – as colleagues and human beings.

 
Scott Baxter

CEO & President, Kontoor Brands