Erik Jonnaert becomes secretary general of ACEA

Erik Jonnaert has taken over as new secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, following confirmation by the ACEA Board of Directors in September. Jonnaert, a long time public affairs and communications professional, joined ACEA in July after having been appointed successor to Ivan Hodac. Hodac, who has been leading ACEA as its Secretary General for the past 12 years, is taking retirement.

During its last meeting, in September, ACEA’s Board of Directors confirmed that Jonnaert would take over on 1 October. The Board also asked Hodac to stay on as senior advisor to the ACEA Board and to the secretary general until the end of the year.

Jonnaert began his career with Linklaters, a law firm, in Brussels. He later joined Procter & Gamble, a consumer goods company, at which he spent more than 25 years in various leadership roles in Europe and Asia, where he was responsible for legal, public and regulatory affairs, as well as communications. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.