CECIMO Names José Pérez Berdud President for 2026–2028 Term

San Sebastián, Spain – CECIMO, the European Association of Manufacturing Technologies, announced the election of José Pérez Berdud, CEO, Fagor Automation, as its new President for a two-year term. He succeeds François Duval of United Machining France SAS. The election took place during CECIMO’s General Assembly, held in Basel on June 9, 2026.

Berdud brings extensive leadership experience in industrial automation, machine tools, and advanced manufacturing technologies. His appointment comes at an important moment for Europe’s manufacturing industry, as companies adapt to technological change, global competition, and the need to strengthen investment and industrial capacity.

Commenting on his appointment, he said, “I am truly honored to take on the role of CECIMO President for the next two years and grateful for the trust placed in me by our members. Europe’s manufacturing technology industry is a cornerstone of our industrial strength, innovation capacity, and strategic autonomy. Building on the strong work carried out over the past mandate, I look forward to working closely with CECIMO members to ensure that our sector has the right conditions to invest, innovate, scale up, and compete globally.”

During his mandate, Berdud will focus on reinforcing CECIMO’s role as a strong and constructive voice for Europe’s advanced manufacturing industries. The association will continue to engage closely with EU institutions and national stakeholders to ensure that industrial policy is translated into concrete measures that support companies on the ground.

A central priority will be to strengthen the functioning of the Single Market and address remaining barriers that limit industrial growth, cross-border activity, and technology deployment. Fair global competition will remain a key priority for CECIMO, with continued efforts to ensure that European companies can compete on a level playing field while upholding high standards of quality, innovation, and sustainability.

Alongside the election of the new CECIMO President, the General Assembly also confirmed the appointment of the Committee Chairmen and statutory roles, who will play a central role in supporting the association’s work over the coming mandate. Riccardo Rosa, President, Rosa Ermando SpA, was reappointed as Chairman of the Technical Committee for a further two-year term. The Committee’s work will remain focused on key regulatory and technical files affecting the sector.

After nine years as Chairman of the Economic Committee, Marcus Burton, Special Advisor, Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd, steps down from the role. CECIMO warmly acknowledged his long-standing contribution to the Committee’s work. François Duval of United Machining France SAS, outgoing CECIMO President, was appointed as the new Chairman of the Economic Committee. In this role, he will oversee CECIMO’s work on industry statistics, forecasts, and economic analysis, supporting the association’s evidence-based contribution to policy discussions.

Jan Rýdl was reappointed as CECIMO Treasurer for a further three-year mandate. In this capacity, he will continue to oversee the association’s financial policies and budgets, contributing to the sound financial management of CECIMO’s activities.

Together with the CECIMO Board, Secretariat, the Committee Chairmen — Ricardo Rosa, President, UCIMU and Rosa Ermando SpA; François Duval, Managing Director, United Machining France SAS; Virgilio García, President, ADDIMAT and CEO, Novaindef; and Vincent Affolter, Managing Director, Affolter Group SA — as well as incoming President Barbara Colombo, CEO, FICEP SpA, and the Treasurer, Jan Rýdl, CEO, TOS VARNSDORF as, will play an important role in advancing the association’s priorities and supporting the new President, Berdud, in representing Europe’s manufacturing technology sector.

Image Source: AFM, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies