Claude Fontheim
/ALI SENIOR ADVISOR
Claude Fontheim is the CEO of advisory firm Fontheim International, LLC, and Non-Executive Chair of civil society organization GlobalWorks Foundation. He has decades of experience advising global companies, civil society organizations and government officials regarding ESG and global public policy.
Mr. Fontheim was among the first practitioners in the fields of corporate social responsibility and related governance issues. He has also long advised global businesses, civil society organizations, government officials, and Presidential and congressional campaigns regarding international trade, global development and foreign policy matters.
Mr. Fontheim’s extensive nonprofit activities include service on the following boards of directors:
GlobalWorks Foundation provides capacity building, training and analysis regarding labor and human rights, and sustainable development. It is best known for developing and supporting Co-Governance programs that protect human rights in global supply chains: Non-Executive Chair & Co-Founder
Center for International Private Enterprise is a core institution of the National Endowment for Democracy: Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Chair, Strategic Partnerships Committee
NewDEAL Forum supports outstanding pro-growth progressive state and local elected officials through education and professional development programs; Mr. Fontheim was a founding board member of NewDEAL (a c4 organization) and now serves on the board of directors of its counterpart 501c3 organization.
Mr. Fontheim is a Co-Founder and Senior Advisor to the American Leadership Initiative, which is co-creating a 21st Century agenda for American global leadership with thought leaders from civil society, politics, government, academia and business.
He also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Michigan – Michigan in Washington Program where he and his family have funded an annual scholarship for students unable to afford participation.
During his career, Mr. Fontheim has led many global ESG and public policy initiatives. A few examples include:
Developed and advised on sustainable and responsible supply chain programs over the past 30 years
Worked with members of Congress, businesses and civil society organizations to develop and successfully advocate for the Africa Growth & Opportunity Act, and then worked with global businesses investing in sub-Saharan Africa
Developed and participated in implementing many corporate labor and human rights codes of conduct and programs to protect these rights over the past 30 years
Created and managed high level track II dialogue programs between the United States and China concerning a wide range of policy issues
Developed and continue to participate in all aspects of a corporate – labor federation partnership in Honduras that has protected the welfare of workers and enabled the ongoing success of the business
Mediated the resolution of a crisis involving ongoing gender-based violence (GBV) in a major manufacturing complex to create a first of its kind anti-GBV program involving 3 major apparel brands, an apparel manufacturer, local worker representatives and women’s NGOs
Developed and participated in implementing corporate risk management programs for supply chains and other ESG challenges
Mr. Fontheim served previously on the President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations, as well as the advisory committees on Africa for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and on international economic policy for the State Department. He was also a partner in a global law firm. Mr. Fontheim also served previously as Chair of GoodWeave International one of the world’s leading civil society organizations working to eliminate child, forced and bonded labor from global supply chains, and was founded by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
Mr. Fontheim received his J.D., M.P.P., and B.A. from the University of Michigan where he graduated with High Honors, High Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, and was Managing Editor of Michigan’s international law publication.
