The voice of the

European aluminium

industry

European Aluminium, founded in 1981 and based in Brussels, is a member-based industry association representing Europe’s most complete and thriving metals value chain.

Our 100+ members include primary aluminium producers; downstream manufacturers of extruded, rolled and cast aluminium; producers of recycled aluminium and national aluminium associations,  representing more than 600 plants in 30 European countries.

Our Team

Our association’s day-to-day work is managed by an international team of policy- and technical experts. We actively engage with decision makers and the wider stakeholder community to promote the outstanding properties of aluminium, secure growth, and optimise our metal's contribution to meeting the EU’s sustainability and industrial leadership ambitions.

Director General

Paul Voss

Director General

Paul joined European Aluminium from Euroheat & Power, the association for the European district energy sector, where he acted as Managing Director for the past eight years. Mr. Voss is a long-term public affairs and governmental relations expert with nearly 20 years of experience in the Brussels and energy sector. Paul Voss has studied in Canada, France, and Belgium and holds a Master’s degree in European Public Policy.

Public Affairs & Communications

Pia Alina Lange

Director Public Affairs & Communications

Alina joined European Aluminium in July 2021. Previously, she headed the communications department at RECHARGE, the European association for advanced rechargeable batteries, and was responsible for communications and public affairs at international PV waste manager PV CYCLE. Alina started her career in the green energy sector at S&P500 company First Solar, where she worked on public relations, governmental affairs and communications at the Brussels office. She holds a Master’s degree in economic science

Giulia Forgnone

Senior Public Affairs Manager

Giulia Forgnone joined European Aluminium in September 2022 as a Senior Public Affairs Manager. Before, she worked as Policy Manager at Euroheat & Power (EHP), the European district heating and cooling association.

Giulia has a range of experience in the EU climate and energy fields, including positions in a global public affairs consultancy, the European Parliament, the European think tank Friends of Europe, and the European Climate Foundation.

Giulia holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Kent and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science & International Relations from Valle d’Aosta University. Giulia is an Italian native speaker who also speaks English, French and Spanish.

Kelly Roegies

Senior Manager Communications

Kelly joined European Aluminium in August 2017 as Manager Communications. Prior to joining, she worked as a Strategic Communications Manager for a non-profit organisation and a Virtual Reality start-up company. She has also worked as a Senior Corporate Communications Consultant for FTI Consulting, a market-leading global business advisory firm. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins (UAL) and a Master’s degree in History of Art from the University of Oxford.

George Karkampasis

Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs – Circular Economy & Raw Materials

George joined European Aluminium in 2020 as Circular Economy & Recycling Manager. Prior to joining, he worked as a Sustainability Manager for Cefic. George holds a Master’s degree in EU Studies from the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven.

Emanuele Manigrassi

Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs – Climate & Energy

Emanuele joined European Aluminium in June 2019 as Manager for EU Public Affairs. He is accustomed to interacting with wider stakeholders, having previously worked in Brussels at Weber Shandwick, a global public affairs and communications agency, and DODs EU Monitoring. He also worked on Policy Coordination within the Secretariat General of the European Commission. Emanuele holds a Master’s degree in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Genoa, Italy.

Eva Tormo

Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs – Environment & Compliance

Eva joined European Aluminium in June 2018 as Environment, Health and Safety Manager. Prior to this, she worked for APEAL as Sustainability and Environment Project Officer and on municipal waste management with ACR+. Before moving to Brussels, she trained as a laboratory technician for water quality with Acciona and Facsa in Spain. Eva holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Murcia and also has a degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Córdoba (Spain).

Léa Margot Malfrait

Regulatory Affairs Officer

Léa joined European Aluminium in September 2021 as a trainee in Public Affairs and Communication. She obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental Law from the Paris Saclay University and a Master’s degree in Human rights from the Paris X University.

Francesca Di Bernardo

Trainee Public Affairs & Communications

Francesca joined European Aluminium in July 2021 as a trainee in Public Affairs and Communication. She obtained a Master’s degree in International Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs from the University of Bologna.

Innovation

Christian Leroy

Director Innovation

Christian joined European Aluminium in 1999, and has since been in charge of various functions covering education, technology and environmental fields. Today, Christian is responsible for innovation and lifecycle assessment and heads the Innovation Hub. He holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Process Engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL).

Chiara Deffendi

Coordinator Innovation

Chiara joined European Aluminium in July 2018. She is the Coordinator of the Innovation Hub. She holds a Master’s Degree in Local and Global Development and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs from the University of Bologna.

Francesca Cavezza

Innovation Project Manager

Francesca joined European Aluminium in September 2021 as Innovation Project Manager. Before joining, she worked as a development chemist in a chemical company supplying the automotive sector. She holds a Ph.D. from the Electrochemical and Surface Engineering group (SURF-VUB, Belgium) and an M.Sc. in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering from the Technical Danish University (Denmark).

Konstantinos Kollias

Innovation Project Manager

Konstantinos joined European Aluminium as Innovation Project Officer in January 2021. Konstantinos worked for 8 years as a researcher at the National Technical University of Athens, where he performed project management in European-funded research projects and conducted environmental Life Cycle Assessment in materials and industrial processes. He holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Earth Sciences from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens.

Strategy, Analysis & Market Development

Bernard Gilmont

Director Engineered Products and Business Development

Bernard joined European Aluminium in March 2000 as Mass Transportation Manager and since then became Director Engineered Products, also covering automotive, building and standards. Prior to joining, he spent 6 years in various manager positions in the oil industry for Petrofina-Total. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, a degree in Energy & Oil Products Engineering from the IFP-School (Paris) and an Executive Master in Management from Solvay Business School (Brussels).

Maarten Labberton

Director Packaging Group

Maarten joined European Aluminium in 1993. He has been in charge of various functions within our association before becoming Director of the Packaging Group in 2005. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of Metal Packaging Europe and a member of the European Steering Committee of ‘Every Can Counts’. Maarten holds a Master of Law from the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) and a certificate in European Law from the University of Leuven (Belgium).

Sandro Starita

Director Sustainability

Sandro joined European Aluminium in 2008 and has held his current position since 2013. In the past, he worked in the technical department of the Italian steel association, after dealing with the evaluation of industrial research projects, safety in the workplace and remediation of polluted sites. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (Italy), and an Executive MBA degree at MIP, the Business School of the Politecnico di Milano.

Patrik Ragnarsson

Director Mobility and Strategic Projects

Patrik joined European Aluminium in 2010. He is now Head of Mobility, managing the Automotive & Transport group. Before joining, he worked with Vehicle Acoustics as a research fellow at KU Leuven. He holds a Master of Science in Vehicle Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden (KTH)

David Van Heuverswyn

Director Every Can Counts Europe / Manager Packaging Group

David joined European Aluminium in March 2008, initially working on Public Affairs, Communications & Packaging related issues. In 2015 he became Coordinator of the Packaging Group. He was promoted to Manager Packaging Group and appointed Director Every Can Counts  Europe. Before joining European Aluminium, he spent seven years translating scientific literature and invention patents from English and Spanish to French. David holds a European Master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Translation from the Institute of Translators and Interpreters  in Brussels.

Benedetta Nucci

Senior Manager Mobility & Life Cycle Assessment

Benedetta joined European Aluminium in January 2018 as Environmental Manager, Building & Mobility. Prior to joining, she worked in Italy as a consultant on Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Footprinting and as a policy officer in DG Environment, European Commission, in the Environmental Footprint team. She holds a Ph.D. in “Management: innovation, sustainability and healthcare” from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa, Italy) and a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pisa (Italy).

Guido Sabatini

Senior Manager Standards

Guido joined European Aluminium in 2018 as Technical Manager Building Market Group & Standards. He previously dealt with standardisation issues within the Sustainable Construction Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry (now DG Growth) and at the European Builders Confederation. He studied Environmental Engineering at both the University of Florence (Italy) and Lund University (Sweden).

Dries van Hout

Environmental Manager, Building

Dries joined European Aluminium in August 2021 as Environmental Manager, Building. Before joining, he worked two years as an environmental consultant on Life Cycle Assessment, GHG Footprinting, and Circular Construction. Dries holds a Master of Science in Materials Engineering from KU Leuven.

Trade & Market Intelligence

Djibril René

Director Industy and Market Intelligence test

Djibril joined in 2012 as Senior Manager Sustainability & Economic Data. Prior to joining, he worked as a consultant in Paris and Brussels on environmental footprint and waste management. He holds a Master of Engineering in Agronomy from ENSAIA (Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie et des Industries Alimentaires) and a Master of Business Administration from the IAE (Institut d’Administration des Entreprises).

Sounia Mourabit

EU Trade Law Counsel

Sounia joined European Aluminium in May 2017 as Trade Manager. Prior to joining, she spent six years as an associate at an international law firm, specialised in trade law. Early in her career, she held positions at the European Parliament and the United Nations. She holds a Master’s degree in law from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2007) and a LLM from Harvard Law School (2008).

Pedro Nogueira

Data Analyst

Pedro joined European Aluminium as a Data Analyst in 2021. Before joining, Pedro followed up on the work of Portugal’s Presidency of the Council of EU, notably on subjects linked to the annual and long-term budget of the EU. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics.

Corporate Services

Bilall Bahia

Head of Finance and Administration

Bilall Bahia joined European Aluminum in 2022 as Head of Finance and Administration. He is a chartered tax accountant with broad experience in all aspects of accounting, tax, auditing, and financial management. Through the years, he built a strong expertise in European project management and funding mechanisms while working for start-ups and non-profit organisations/trade associations.

Diana Coseano

Head of Operations

Diana joined European Aluminium as Office Manager/Personal Assistant to the Director General in August 2018. Before joining, she worked for more than six years as an Administrative & Human Resources Manager for an international NGO in Brussels and two years in Italy as a researcher. She holds a Master’s Degree in International and Diplomatic Relations from the University of Trieste (Italy).

Mélina Kotsaridis

Community & Events Manager

Mélina joined European Aluminium in October 2016. She holds a Master’s degree in Management, Consultancy & Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles).

Nijole Zaniauskaite

Administrative Officer

Nijole joined European Aluminium in June 2018 as Assistant Recycling, EHS & Sustainability. Before joining, she worked as an Event Organiser for an international consulting company in Brussels and has experience in administrative support, coordination of public relations, and international affairs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Information Management from Vilnius University.

Our Mission & Vision

European Aluminium’s mission is to create the conditions for the European aluminium industry to grow, evolve, and help build a more sustainable world. Together with our members, policy makers and other stakeholders, we want to realise our vision of a competitive, decarbonised and circular European aluminium industry serving a thriving European society.

Governance

Our members are the cornerstones of European Aluminium. They steer the association through their participation in Divisions, Task Forces, Committees, and Market Groups, which gather experts from the industry. The Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the direction and management of the association, taking into account the interests of all members. It is presided by a Chair who serves a two-year term.

FOR THE TERM
2021 – 2023

Members of the Executive Committee

Ingrid Jörg

Chair

Ingrid has been President of Constellium’s Aerospace and Transportation business unit since June 2015, overseeing five facilities in France, Switzerland, and the United States for several markets, including commercial aviation, space, transportation, industry, and defence. Previously, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Aleris Rolled Products Europe. And she held leadership positions with Alcoa. Ingrid received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Linz, Austria.

Philipp Schlüter

Vice-Chair

Philipp is the CEO of TRIMET. He joined TRIMET Schweiz AG in 2009, where he held senior positions in the areas of risk management, raw material procurement and energy management as well as in retail trade and aluminium product sales. On 26 November 2018, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer. Philipp studied business administration in Bern and London, he began his professional career at UBS Investment Bank in London.

Paul Warton

Treasurer

Paul has been President of the Automotive Structures & Industry business unit in Constellium since January 2011. In this role, he oversees 18 extrusion and fabrication plants in Europe, North America, and China coupled with an R&T facility at Brunel University, London.

Prior to joining the aluminium industry in 1993, Paul spent 10 years in automotive manufacturing and commercial positions with Federal-Mogul and GKN. Paul holds a BSc in Production Engineering and an MBA from the London Business School.

Emilio Braghi

Member of the Executive Committee

Emilio is Senior Vice President and President, Novelis Europe since 2016. He oversees ten European facilities for recycling and manufacturing aluminium for a number of sectors, including automotive, building, packaging and transportation.

Before the formation of Novelis, where he was Vice President, Operations, Novelis North America and Vice President, Sales and Operations Asia, Emilio had been with Alcan since 1999, where he began as Sales Manager, Europe. Emilio graduated in engineering and industrial production technologies from Politecnico di Milano.

Constantin Catsaros

Member of the Executive Committee

Constantin is a member of the Board of Directors for several Elval Group companies. In Elval since 1974, he works mainly with the company’s international development team. He was also chairman of aluminium rolling plants in Europe.

Before joining Elval, Constantinos had worked for Pechiney in France. He also served as chairman and vice-chairman of the Aluminium Association of Greece.

Constantinos is a graduate in mechanical-electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens; aircraft constructor/ engineer of École Nationale Superieure d’ Aeronautique in Paris and holds an engineering Doctorate from Paris University.

Rob van Gils

Member of the Executive Committee

Rob is the CEO and Managing Partner of HAI Group. Rob has significantly changed the portfolio of HAI Group in recent years which now covers the entire value chain; recycling, billet production, extrusions, and aluminium components for building and construction, industrial applications, and the transportation industry.

Rob held several management positions within HAI and AMAG, providing him with more than 15 years of experience within the aluminium industry. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Deggendorf, Germany, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville.

 

Gerald Mayer

Member of the Executive Committee

Gerald is CEO of AMAG Austria Metall AG, which he joined in September 2007 as a Member of the Board & Chief Financial Officer. He was a Member of the Alouette Owners’ Committee until 2019, when he was appointed as CEO

From 2000 until 2007, he held various management roles in the plant building business at Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH & Co and VA Technologie AG in Austria. Previously Gerald was a public accountant and tax consultant.  An Austrian national, he studied business administration at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Austria, with one year at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Roberta Niboli

Member of the Executive Committee

Roberta is the CEO of Raffmetal. From 2005 to 2009 and from 2015 to 2017, Roberta was President of the Italian Aluminium Refiners Association (Assiral) and a member of the Organisation of European Refiners and Remelters (OEA) Council. On 10 July 2009, she was elected President of OEA, previously European Aluminium’s Recycling Division. She chaired this division until 2015.

Roberta is an economics graduate and has a range of international work experience.

Simon Pelletier

Member of the Executive Committee

Simon is General Manager, Global Metal Sales, Aluminium, Rio Tinto. Before joining Rio Tinto in France in 2004, Simon worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

At Rio Tinto, he held various finance roles with Alcan’s Engineered Products and Mergers & Acquisitions in Paris, Montreal and Singapore.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from École des Hautes Études Commerciales, Montréal and a CPA designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants of Québec.

John Slaven

Member of the Executive Committee

John is Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Alcoa, responsible for the daily operations of the company’s global bauxite, alumina and aluminium assets.

John has extensive experience in the metals and mining business, including global experience in several commodities and industry sectors across the aluminium value chain. Prior to joining Alcoa, he served for 13 years as a Partner and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town.

Roman Stiftner

Member of the Executive Committee

Roman has been Managing Director of the Austrian Mining and Steel Association and the Austrian Non Ferrous Metals Federation within the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber since 2008.

He has been Vice President of Euromines since 2016. and in 2011, he became Secretary General of the European Raw Materials platform ‘Eumicon’ and President of the Austrian Logistic Association. Roman studied at the Technical University and at the Economic and Business University of Vienna.

Arnaud de Weert

Member of the Executive Committee

Arnaud is CEO of ALVANCE. In 2020, he was appointed Group COO of GFG Alliance whilst retaining his role of CEO of ALVANCE.

Arnaud has held a number of senior roles in the sector, including CEO of Aludium, Operating Partner at Atlas, North American President for Owens-Illinois, and top posts at Constellium and Novelis.

Arnaud is a Dutch national who graduated in business economics from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam and has spent most of his career in manufacturing; spearheading growth programmes for large international enterprises in sectors including hygiene products, packaging, hand tools and power tools, as well as aluminium.