WHO WE ARE

European Metals brings together the companies and associations shaping Europe’s non-ferrous metals ecosystem: from upstream mining and refining to downstream use and high-quality recycling.

We represent a sector that is essential to Europe’s future.

Vision

European Metals envisages a revitalised, future-ready Europe, reinforced by a secure, sustainable and resource-efficient metals value chain.

By championing circular, sustainable operations and enabling strategic autonomy and sovereignty, we put non-ferrous metals at the heart of Europe’s green and digital transformations.

Mission

We connect technical expertise with policy action, ensuring that the importance of the metals sector is recognised, valued, and that our sector’s future is secured.

We work to remove systemic barriers to recycling, encourage better product design, and promote investment in infrastructure.

Driving the industry forward through five strategic pillars:

Our work ensures that these materials can be produced, used, and recovered responsibly, competitively, and in alignment with the EU’s environmental and industrial goals.

Securing the foundations of industry

Non-ferrous metals are the invisible infrastructure of Europe’s economy. They power renewable energy systems, digital networks, advanced defence technologies and more. We help ensure that Europe has the regulatory and industrial conditions needed to secure its own supply of these materials.

Advocating for smarter policy

Our work is deeply technical and highly strategic. We translate the expertise of our members into credible, science-based advocacy that influences how policies are shaped, from raw materials access to product regulation, climate legislation to trade rules.

Enabling resilience & circularity

We support solutions that reduce dependency, waste, and emissions – while increasing value for the EU economy. That means championing a truly circular metals system and ensuring Europe’s metals sector remains resilient to global shocks.

Connecting a complex value chain

European Metals serves as a hub for a diverse and evolving membership. Our strength lies in bringing together producers, recyclers, processors, and users of non-ferrous metals to speak with clarity and ambition.

Preparing for what’s next

In a rapidly changing global context, the role of materials has never been more strategic. Our work protects today’s operations and shapes tomorrow’s opportunities. European Metals is building the conditions for a cleaner, more competitive and more self-reliant Europe.

Board Members

Evangelos Mytilineos is the Executive Chairman of METLEN Energy & Metals, a global industrial and energy company with operations on five continents and more than 9,000 employees. Until 2025 he served as Chairman & CEO, delivering a consolidated turnover of €5.7bn and EBITDA of €1.08bn in 2024, before transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman to oversee the Group’s strategic direction and international growth.

He founded MYTILINEOS Holdings in 1990, driving its expansion through the acquisitions of METKA and Aluminium of Greece—today the EU’s largest fully integrated alumina and aluminium producer.

He later strengthened the Group’s raw materials portfolio with the acquisition of Imerys Bauxites, making METLEN the leading bauxite producer in Europe.

He listed the company on the Athens Stock Exchange in 1995 and entered the energy sector in the 2000s, establishing what has become one of Greece’s most integrated and competitive energy groups. Under his leadership, METLEN has advanced major investments in Green Metallurgy and Sustainable Energy, including a global renewables portfolio of more than 10 GW. He also led the Group’s international expansion, culminating in its listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2025 and subsequent inclusion in the FTSE 100.

A strong advocate of corporate governance and sustainability, in 2021 he set targets to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. He was re-elected in 2024 as President of European Metals, representing Europe’s non-ferrous metals industry, and has served five terms as Vice President of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV). He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Athens, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Piraeus.

Guillaume de Goÿs is Chief Executive Officer of Aluminium Dunkerque, the largest primary aluminium smelter in the European Union, and a Board member of Aluminium Duffel, a leading aluminium rolling mill based in Belgium. He has built an international career across France, Africa, Asia, and the United States, holding senior executive and project leadership roles within global aluminium, graphite, and tyre companies.

He also serves as President of the French Association of Aluminium Producers and sits on the boards of European Aluminium and European Metals. In these roles, he actively represents the industry’s interests and is a strong advocate for decarbonisation, sustainability, and the development of a circular economy.

Daniel Peltonen, President Boliden Smelters, with a Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Engineering with Industrial Economy from Åbo Academy University, Finland. Daniel has broad experience from the process industry. Before joining Boliden AB, Daniel made a long career with many years of experience from other industrial companies i.e. as Business Area Director, as site Manager for Business Units and several roles as Production Manager both in Sweden and internationally.

Daniel highly values the people side of change, to have common values that empower the organization and provide a common structure that simplify everyday work. This is essential when striving to achieve excellence and the company vision: To be the most climate friendly and respected metal provider in the world.

Dr. ir. Wouter Ghyoot is Vice-President Government Affairs at Umicore with a global responsibility. He holds a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Gent. He worked as a researcher at SINTEF in Norway and was seconded to the Nickel Institute (London) for two years. He held various positions within Umicore since 2000, including in Research and Innovation, Sales and Corporate EHS, the latter with a global responsibility including sustainability and regulatory affairs. Since 2022 he leads the Government Affairs department at Umicore and is based in Brussels, Belgium.

Francesco Gattiglio is Vice President, External AffairsEurope at Albemarle, a leading provider of lithium, bromine and other essential elements. Since joining the company in 2022, he has spearheaded the company’s advocacy in Brussels on EU legislation related to sustainability, critical raw materials, chemicals and transport electrification. Francesco is focused on advancing Albemarle’s engagement with EU institutions, industry stakeholders, associations and NGOs for sustainable and secure supply chains.  With over a decade of policy experience in Brussels, Francesco previously served as Director, EU Affairs & Policy at EUROBAT, representing industrial and automotive battery manufacturers. Francesco holds master’s degrees in International Relations (University of Florence) and International Political Economy (University of Warwick).

Marcin Kacperski graduated from the Faculty of Non-Ferrous Metals at the AGH University in Kraków, earning a master degree in Non-Ferrous Metallurgy in 2003. He has been working for KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Głogów Copper Smelter Division for over 22 years. He started his career as a foreman at production departments. In subsequent years he got promoted to managerial positions including the Technical Director office. His current role is a Production Director.He was involved in the modernisation and implementation of new process solutions at Głogów Copper Smelter, he also participated in the commissioning of a new copper plant in Zambia. For 12 years he has been a member of the Management Board of the Association of Non-Ferrous Metals Engineers and Technicians at Głogów Copper Smelter, aiming at active support of the development of the non-ferrous metals industry.

Paul Voss is Director General at European Aluminium, the industry voice of the aluminium value chain in Europe. Mr. Voss is a long-term public affairs and governmental relations expert with 20 years of experience in the Brussels and energy sector. Prior to joining the aluminium industry, Mr. Voss served as Managing Director at Euroheat & Power, the association for the European district energy sector, and as Head of Public and Industrial Affairs at energy solutions provider Danfoss District Energy.

A British-Belgian national, Paul Voss is married with three children and holds degrees in Political Science and European Public Administration from Universities in Canada, France and Belgium.

Anna-Maria Karjalainen is Deputy Director General and Head of EU Regulatory Affairs at the International Copper Association Europe, where she serves as the association’s primary interface with the European institutions, representing the copper sector in high-level EU policy discussions. She leads and coordinates ICA Europe’s science and regulatory affairs work, drawing on a team of experts across energy and climate, environment and chemicals, and circularity and waste to support evidence-based engagement on issues of strategic importance for the copper value chain. She has more than 15 years of experience in EU policymaking and advocacy, including nearly a decade in public affairs consultancy, and previously worked at the European Commission. She holds an MA from the College of Europe in Bruges and a BA from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Dr. Winbow is Director of European Affairs at the International Zinc Association based in Brussels from where he manages a team of experts coordinating the needs and communicating support for its Zinc Industry Members. He is also Chair of the International Cadmium Association.

With qualifications in Geology, Materials Science and Chemistry, Dr Winbow previously had a career in businesses across Europe, Americas and Asia.  Following over 20 years for Johnson Matthey plc, Dr Winbow became Operations Director at a Zn/ZnO distributor and largest producer of Cd pigments in the world with responsibilities for Production, Occupational Health, Safety, Waste and Environment, as well as IED Permit and REACH compliance of an Upper Tier Seveso site.

Within European Metals he is Chair of the REACH Advocacy TF and a member of the Organising Committee of the EM Metals Academy.

Finally, he enjoys family time, is a keen runner and traveler, as well as an author of several patents and papers, has contributed articles to books and encyclopedias as well as regularly presenting at conferences.

Dr. Roman Stiftner is Managing Director of the Austrian Non-Ferrous Metals Federation and the Austrian Mining and Steel Association. He serves as Director General of EUMICON and as Vice President of Euromines, contributing to EU policy on mining and raw materials, with a focus on access to resources, sustainability, and the competitiveness of Europe’s metals and minerals industries. He is a member of the Executive Committee of European Aluminium and a Member of the Board of European Metals.

He is also President of the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) and the Austrian Logistics Association (BVL), and he contributes expertise in industrial value chains, trade, customs, and transport policy. He previously served in executive leadership roles ininternational industry, including as CEO, and was a Member of the Vienna Parliament.

He holds a doctorate from TU Wien, lectures at the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, and regularly speaks at international industry and policy conferences.

Michael Niese (55) has been working in the non-ferrous metals industry for more than 20 years. After completing a doctorate in economics, he began his professional career in 2003 at Norddeutsche Affinerie AG, now Aurubis AG, in Hamburg. Since 2006, Michael Niese has been active in the Berlin political arena at the WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle e. V. (WVMetalle). From 2006 to 2015, he was a director for energy and climate policy. This was followed by positions as managing director and, from 2016 to 2019, as head of the European office. Since September 2024 Michael Niese is director general of WVMetalle. The association represents the interests of the German non-ferrous metals industry comprising of the production and processing (semis) of light metals, all other non-ferrous metals, foundries and hot dip galvanizing.

Born in Milan in 1960, graduated in Political Science at the University of Milan. He entered the metallurgical industry in 1989 as Secretary of the Italian Aluminum Refiners Association. In 1998, he became environmental manager for ASSOMET– the Italian Association of Non-Ferrous Metal Industries. As time went by he has worked his way up in the organization covering the position of deputy director and eventually director general.

For Assomet he held the following position:  Secretary General of Centroal (aluminium group within Assomet); member of the Board of the consortium Gas Intensive; member of the Board of IGQ – Italian Quality Institute,  certification body; member of the Board of Qualital – industrial certification institute for aluminium and other material; CONAI Consultant (National Packaging Consortium) for  aluminium packaging recovery certification flux.

Roland Chavasse is the Secretary General of the International Lithium Association (ILiA), the global industry body representing the lithium value chain, which he co-founded with Anand Sheth in 2021. Roland has 25 years of experience with rare and critical elements, including over a decade of commercial roles sourcing and supplying tantalum, rhenium, cobalt, niobium and nickel-based superalloys.

Since 2016 he has specialized in metals association management, advocating for members’ interests globally, hosting conferences on four continents, managing responsible sourcing programs, and editing trade journals. He has previously lead the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (T.I.C.) and the Minor Metals Trade Association (MMTA). He has an MA (Oxon) in Geography and and MBA from the Open University. He is based in London, UK.

MEET THE TEAM

The experts driving Europe’s metal future.

James Watson

Director General

Bilall Bahia

Chief Financial Director

Violaine Verougstraete

Chemicals Management Director

Adina Georgescu

Energy & Climate Change Director

Martina Bassan

Corporate Affairs Director

Laura Fazio Bellacchio

Head of Sustainability

Carmine Carinci

International Trade & Responsible Supply Chain Policy Manager

Lara Van de Merckt

Chemicals Management Senior Policy Advisor

Sophia Verbrugghe

Chemicals Management Manager

Lucia Verardi

Energy & Climate Change Manager

Sara Attanasio

Events Manager

Armand Camboulives

Energy & Climate Change Policy Officer

Andrea Pellini

Chemicals Management Policy Officer

Linda Ruscello

Communications Officer

Diana Dobre

Chemicals & Business Development Officer

Enrico Macciotta

Sustainability Policy Officer

Valentina Tonut

Senior Finance and Administration Advisor

Omar Fari

Senior Finance & Administration Officer

Ailsa Lee

Chemicals Management Assistant

Diogo De Sousa

Communications & Events Intern

Federica Iaccino

Chemicals Management Consultant

Simon Cook

Chemicals Management Advisor