New GLAFRI President elected at Global Aluminium Foil Roller Conference 2024 in Istanbul

The membership of the Global Aluminium Foil Roller Initiative (GLAFRI) elected Fernando Varella, as the new President of the organisation representing the aluminium foil rollers worldwide. The election took place at the General Assembly on the occasion of the 7th Global Aluminium Foil Roller Conference (GLAFCO), held in Istanbul from 4-6 Sep 2024.

Fernando Varella is Vice President Downstream Flat Rolled/Extruded Products and Innovation & Digital transformation at Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio – CBA and succeeds Göksal Güngör, CEO of Assan Alüminyum who served two terms as Vice-President and two terms as President during a significant period for the aluminium foil industry, marked by substantial developments in sustainability and innovation. Göksal Güngör expressed his gratitude for the trust and support he had received during his term of office and decided to step down for a new leadership. Fernando Varella was elected unanimously and will be supported by Vice Presidents Simon Chan and Bruno Rea, forming a strong leadership team for the association.

"I am honoured to take on the role of President of GLAFRI. As the aluminium foil industry faces growing global challenges and opportunities, particularly in sustainability and new technologies. I look forward to working closely with our members and industry partners to drive innovation and strengthen our collective efforts in promoting aluminium foil's essential role in the future," Fernando Varella stated in his first remarks as President.

"On behalf of the entire membership, I sincerely thank Mr Güngör for his efforts and achievements during his time leading this relatively young global organisation! Membership has continuously grown and several important projects mainly in the field of sustainability and recycling have been run."

This election marks a new chapter for GLAFRI, reinforcing its mission to coordinate global actions on sustainability and to support market growth for aluminium foil. Under Fernando Varella’s leadership, the association will continue to address the pressing issues within the industry, ensuring its relevance in key areas such as decarbonisation, innovative foil applications and technological advancements.

Looking ahead, the new GLAFRI President Fernando Varella acknowledged the high level of participation at GLAFCO 2024, which was above expectations. He noted that the next GLAFCO is scheduled to take place in 2026. The specific date and location of the event will be announced in due course.