European Bioplastics (EUBP) announced it has elected a new board during its general assembly on June 4.
Mariagiovianna Vetere (Natureworks) and Franz Kraus (Novamont) will head the new leadership team for the next two years as co-chairs.
It is the first time EUBP elects two co-chairs to lead the association.
Vetere has been acting co-chair since Stefan Barot unexpectedly resigned from his roles as chair and member of the EUBP in November 2023. She has been at NatureWorks for over 11 years, first as global public affairs manager, and more recently as vice president sustainability and public affairs.
“I have been involved in the board of EUBP for eleven years.,” Vetere said. “My passion and dedication for this industry has increased continuously, and now, more than ever before, we witness a shift in mindset. The bioeconomy is finally being part of conversations at the highest political level, and EUBP is willing to drive the growth of the bioplastics sector in Europe. I am thrilled to be re-elected as co-chair of EUBP, where I hope to continue to inspire and lead the change.”
Her co-chair Kraus has been head of international public affairs at Novamont for the past two years. Before, he was senior director public affairs at Tipa Compostable Packaging.
“This year is a year of tremendous change,” Kraus said. “Externally, the stage for a more resilient and sustainable Europe will be set by a new Parliament to be elected this weekend and a new Commission to start its mandate before the year is over. Internally, we will continue on the transformative journey which we had started last year, with a new office opened in Brussels, a new team and a new corporate identity. We are at a crossroads, and I am delighted to help guide the association in these exciting times that hold both challenges and opportunities.”
The co-chairs will be supported the new vice-chair, Afsaneh Nabifar (BASF). Andy Sweetman (Futamura), Frédéric Van Gansberghe (Futerro), Myriam Moeyersons (Ingevity), Robert Mack (Kimberly-Clark), Jack McKeivor (TotalEnergies Corbion) and Erwin Lepoudre (Kaneka) also joined the new board, with Lepoudre serving as treasurer.