Continental’s Christian Kötz president of ETRMA

European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has appointed Continental’s executive vice president Christian Kötz and Thierry du Granrut, from the Syndicat National du Caoutchouc et des Polymères as president and vice president respectively, effective 1 January 2015.

“The new chairmanship of ETRMA comes at the time of the new EU legislature,” said ETRMA’s secretary general, Fazilet Cinaralp, welcoming the new president and vice-president. “I would like to thank, on behalf of the board, our outgoing president, Lepercq, who showed strong leadership during the recent difficult economic times and a period of intensive legislative activity”.

Kötz, started his mandate by relaying the message of the board to the new European Commission: “There is the need for a paradigm shift: from regulating to enforcing. Only through the enforcement of the very ambitious laws previously adopted, can the industry enjoy a level playing field and maintain its competitiveness”.

The board also emphasised the need for a trade policy that is balanced, providing real opportunities for export which is needed to foster growth of the industry on the global level. Finally, the board stressed the contribution that the tyre and rubber industry makes to the European economy it generates 0.5 per cent of the EU GDP, and provides jobs for about 360,000 people across Europe. cja