ETRMA extends presidency of Bridgestone exec Annunziato

Brussels – The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has extended the presidency of Bridgestone executive Franco Annunziato, to signal “commitment and continuity” in the face of challenges.

ETRMA board of directors also elected Spanish rubber chief Joan Vicenç Durán, from Consorcio Nacional de Industriales del Caucho, as vice president, the association announced 20 Oct.

Both functions are effective as of 1 Jan 2021 for a three-year term.

As part of his mandate, Annunziato will work with policy makers to identify the most suitable measures to safeguard of jobs, manufacturing and innovation with particular focus on green and digital footprint, ETRMA said.

“When I started my mandate three years ago the global context was significantly different," said Annunziato upon re-election, "We are now living in unprecedented times and still struggling to fence the impacts of a lingering crisis that has unclear horizons.” 

The tire industry, he went on to say, can bring “a significant contribution” to the policy objectives of the European economy which target safety, decarbonisation and digital mobility.

The re-election, according to ETRMA secretary general Fazilet Cinaralp, comes at time, when the industry and society are asking for “a strong commitment to contribute to the post Covid-19 recovery plan.” 

“The tire and rubber industry has a relevant role to play and I cheer the opportunity to assure continuity in the key actions we are bringing forward,” she said. 

According to the ETRMA secretary general, the industry has ‘untapped capacity’ to contribute to ‘greening mobility’ and the circular economy, while leveraging on the tire-as-a-service regulatory framework.

Annunziato, who took the helm at ETRMA in January 2018, has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rome University “La Sapienza” and is specialised in transport and infrastructure technology.

He joined Bridgestone Technical Center Europe SpA as an engineer in 1982 and has held a number of high-ranking positions within the company.