Annunziato to the guide of European rubber and pneumatic manufacturers

The board of directors of the European tyre and rubber manufacturers’ Association, elected Bridgestone Emea’s vice president and senior advisor Franco Annunziato as president of the association. At the same meeting, Thierry du Granrut, from the Syndicat National du Caoutchouc et des Polymères, was confirmed as vice president for a second term. Both terms are effective as of January 1, 2018 for a three-year mandate. This is the first time that Bridgestone takes the presidency of the European association, showing the continued commitment of the company to the industry as a whole and confirming its European presence and interests.

“The change at Etrma’s helm comes at an interesting time for the industry with a new wave of regulatory initiatives that will engage the industry and the European institutions in the near future”, said Etrma’s secretary general, Cinaralp, welcoming the new president. “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank our outgoing president, Kötz, who proved to be an engaged, driven and committed president, leading Etrma through important successes, particularly with regard to market surveillance”.

Kötz confirmed his satisfaction in this respect: “When I took office three years ago, I did so asking for a paradigm shift from regulating to enforcing in order to achieve a level playing field and maintain the competitiveness of the industry. With the launch in 2016 of MsTyr15 and the revision of the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles regulation, I think the foundations have been laid for more effective, stronger market surveillance”.