Manuel Rios re-elected COTANCE President

The Assembly General held on Wednesday 15 May 2024 in Brussels re-elected unanimously Manuel Rios Navarro to continue guiding COTANCE during the next two years. CEO of INPELSA, the leading Spanish sheepskin tannery located in Canals (Valencia), Mr Rios holds the highest position in Europe’s leather industry body since 2021.

President Rios will be shouldered in the COTANCE Presidency by Vice-Presidents Fabrizio Nuti (Italy), Jean Christophe Muller (France) and Rino Mastrotto (Italy). Philippe Joucla (France), outgoing Vice-President, was warmly thanked for his term in the COTANCE Presidency.

The delegates from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, UK, Portugal and Hungary attending the Assembly also adopted the 2024 COTANCE Manifesto which summarises the main asks to the EU in view of the new legislative term with upcoming European elections and the appointment of a new Commission.

COTANCE President Manuel Rios said: “I am very proud of the trust received from my peers for leading our industry in these complicated times, and happy for the support of my colleagues in the COTANCE Presidency. We will not refrain efforts for ensuring that our EU authorities know the needs of our companies. The Manifesto that we have adopted today summarises in 3 points and 10 measures what our industry needs from Europe. Let’s use it extensively so that our political leaders in the EU and at home understand what we need. We cannot afford more spanners in the works. What we need is support and not attacks!”