Metal Packaging Europe appoints new president

Metal Packaging Europe (MPE), the European association representing the rigid metal packaging industry, has appointed Oliver Graham, CEO Global-Ardagh Metal Beverage at Ardagh Group, as its new president. This appointment, which is of an immediate nature, is joined by two other appointments as Vice-Presidents. They are Georg Kasperkovitz, President of Trivium Packaging Europe and Paulo Sousa, Managing Director of Colep Packaging.

Oliver Graham, in addition to 14 years of experience in the metal packaging industry, has served on the MPE Board for over a year and has served as Chairman of the association’s Beverage Board. He replaces Didier Sourisseau, president EMEA for Crown Holdings, Inc. who stepped down in May of this year.

On the occasion of his appointment, the now president of the European metal packaging industry association, said he looks forward to “working with my industry colleagues and the MPE team to build on the achievements of my predecessor, with the ultimate goal of establishing the industry as a leading force in the EU circular economy and making metal the material of choice for sustainable consumer and industrial packaging.”

In addition to these changes at Board level, MPE also welcomed Canpack, one of the world’s leading beverage can manufacturers, as a new Corporate Member during its Annual General Meeting. The addition of this new member is an example of the association’s growing influence and ambition, enabling it to give the industry “a more powerful and united voice at European level”, as the association’s statement points out. “Metal packaging components manufacturer FEMM and global bottle cap manufacturer Pelliconi also joined the association as associate members.”