The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has announced the appointment of Emmanuel Katrakis as the chairman of its International Trade Council (ITC). The new Council chairman is the former secretary general of the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC), a position he held for nearly ten years. He currently also serves as director of public and regulatory affairs at the BIR member company, Galloo Group, having joined the Belgian recycling company after stepping down from his role at EuRIC earlier this year.
Mr Katrakis succeeds outgoing ITC chairman Michael Lion, whom BIR thanked in its Thursday announcement for "his outstanding service to the industry over several decades".
In his years at the helm of EuRIC, Mr Katrakis had developed the umbrella organisation "into the definitive voice of the European recycling industry, bridging the industry with European institutions," said BIR. "With over 15 years of experience in Brussels, Emmanuel has extensive expertise in recycling, advocacy, and association management."
"I am very happy that Emmanuel has accepted my invitation to chair one of BIR’s most important cross-commodity committees, our International Trade Council," commented BIR president Susie Burrage. "Thanks to his leadership skill and his deep understanding of the industry, the ITC will certainly gain momentum and widen its important contributions to our membership."
BIR director general Arnaud Brunet described international trade as "the very foundation of our industry" and said Mr Katrakis brought the necessary expertise to the important position.
