Shein, Chinese textile giant, hires a brand advisor. As revealed The Letter Friday, former minister Christophe Castaner will join one of the “regional strategy committees” to help the company's management in matters of social and environmental responsibility (CSR).
He will not be the only one to occupy this position. The first of these committees, dedicated to Europe, Africa and the Middle East, will have “three independent members”, including the lawyer and former Secretary of State Nicole Guedj, as well as Bernard Spitz, former president of the International and European Commission of Medef, specifies the daily.
Shein rejoices
In a press release relayed by The Huffington Post, Shein welcomed the arrival of his new recruit. “He is recognized for his extensive experience in public administration, governance and strategic planning, as well as for his knowledge of the territory,” underlines the Chinese company.
She also describes the former minister as a “major player in the international transport sector”, in reference to his position as president of the supervisory board of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille (GPMM) and the Mont Blanc Motorway and Tunnel ( ATMB).
An arrival that questions
The arrival of the former president of the LREM group at the National Assembly at Shein, however, raises questions. Indeed, as La Lettre notes, his company, called Villanelle Conseil, is not specialized in CSR. Instead, it presents itself on LinkedIn as a “public affairs, government affairs and institutional relations firm”.
Would the former minister, who led a delegation of parliamentarians and entrepreneurs to China in 2023, have been solicited for his relations, in particular with the President of the Republic? These suspicions are reinforced by the upcoming examination in the Senate of a bill aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry. This text, already adopted by the National Assembly, directly threatens the interests of Shein, which specializes in fast fashion. Questioned, Christophe Castaner assures for his part that he will not have the role of lobbyist.
