ETRMA reconfirms Franco Annunziato as president

The Board of Directors of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufactures’ Association has reconfirmed Franco Annunziato as its president for the next three years. Bridgestone’s vice president and senior advisor was elected for the next three years from 1 January 2021. The ETRMA said the appointment was “a strong signal of commitment and continuity to face the actual macroeconomic scenario.” Joan Vicenç Durán, from Consorcio Nacional de Industriales del Caucho, was also elected vice president at the meeting for the same three-year mandate.

The board said that the rubber industry must work urgently with policy makers at all levels to identify the most suitable measures to safeguard jobs, manufacturing and innovation. It also emphasised the enhanced focus on its green and digital footprint.

Annunziato thanked the board for their trust. “When I started my mandate three years ago the global context was significantly different. We are now living in unprecedented times and still struggling to fence the impacts of a lingering crisis that has unclear horizons. The tyre industry believes it can bring a significant contribution to the policy objectives of the European economy geared to creating a safer, decarbonised and more digital mobility in Europe.

Fazilet Cinaralp, ETRMA’s secretary general, added: “This election comes at a very specific and decisive social-economic time, where our industry and our society are asking for a strong commitment to contribute to the post Covid-19 recovery plan. The tyre and rubber industry has a relevant role to play and I welcome the opportunity to assure continuity in the key actions we are bringing forward. Our capacity to greening mobility, to improve the circular economy and to unlock new markets for services, leveraging on the tyre-as-a-service regulatory framework, is untapped.”