London 18/05/2016 - The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) has appointed Hilde Merete Aasheim, executive vice president of Hydro's primary metal business, its new chair, it said.
Aasheim takes over from current chairman, Abdulla Kalban, who is CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, the IAI said on Wednesday in a release following a board meeting in Shanghai.
Kalban is standing down at the end of his two-year tenure.
"We see growing demand for lightweight, strong, safe and energy efficient aluminium products across all market segments and, through the IAI, we will continue to promote sustainability and resource efficiency along the metal's value chain," Aasheim said.
The IAI is a global grouping of aluminium producers, based in the UK, which promotes usage of the metal as well as compiling and issuing data.
For most of the industry, the climate is challenging due to depressed commodity prices, stagnant growth and increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Kalban added.
"Demand for aluminium products remains robust, however, with exciting times ahead as advances and innovation continue in the transportation sector in particular," he said.
(Editing by Mark Shaw)