The decision was made at this year’s association annual general meeting held on Apr. 12. Page takes over from Steve Tidmarsh, managing director of Kumho UK who completed a two-year term of office.

Although Hankook is a long-standing ITMA member, this is the first time the company has held the Association Presidency. In his acceptance statement Page welcomed closer cooperation with the BTMA and the newly formed TIF:

“During the past four years as a member of the association representing Hankook, I have gained an appreciation of the value of shared discussion on topics of common interest. Often, there are issues of interest or concern to manufacturers, which are better understood through discussion and best and more appropriately dealt with through a representative body. This is the value of ITMA, and I am honoured to be elected to the presidency by my fellow members.

“It is my opinion that, in an ideal world, the interests of all sectors in the industry should be brought together within a single organisation, and I was pleased last year to see the creation of the Tyre Industry Federation as a move towards this.

“Beneath this new umbrella organisation, it is appropriate that the particular interests of the manufacturing sector be aligned as closely as possible, and to this end, I will do my best to further the progress already made towards working more closely with the BTMA as well as the other constituent associations within the TIF.”