Michelin’s Lepercq and Continental’s Koetz elected ETRMA president, VP

After two consecutive terms as ETRMA president Pirelli CEO Dr. Francesco Gori is making way for Michelin’s Patrick Lepercq for a three-year presidential mandate set to run from 2012 to 2014. The news follows Lepercq’s election to the role by ETRMA’s board of directors who also appointed Continental’s Christian Koetz vice–president for the same period.

On his election as president of ETRMA, Lepercq stated that he is committed to asserting the interests of the European tyre and rubber sector:  “The industry needs fair competition, open markets global competition is increasing, while at the same time the European Union is strengthening its regulatory framework with, amongst others, higher environmental and safety rules. In such environment, it is of paramount importance that our trading partners abide by the international regulatory system. That would effectively facilitate free trade and be in everyone’s interest including both business and consumers”.

The industry firmly wants to maintain continuity of its industrial presence in the European continent. As a result the ETRMA said that to prevent the risk of companies moving their production away from Europe, the European Union should have a balanced regulatory approach, i.e. avoiding regulatory burden from overlapping  legislation. At the same time, the EU should ensure a level-playing-field, both in Europe and global markets. Commenting on ETRMA’s function, Patrick Lepercq expressed the determination of maintaining the strong dialogue of the European tyre and rubber industry with the EU institutions, as well as with international authorities.

The secretary general of ETRMA Mrs. Fazilet Cinaralp praised the presidency of Dr. Gori and underlined the “leadership demonstrated by Dr. Gori in helping ETRMA to advance the European agenda. Ambitious environmental goals, while paying due attention to societal concerns, were kept high on the association agenda. ETRMA’s active contribution in the re-launched CARS 21, its accommodation to REACH requirements and all the intensively undergoing research and development for more environmentally sound products are all examples of the determination of our industry to maintain the lead.”