Arun Mammen Elected as New ATMA Chairman

KOCHI:
Arun Mammen, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of MRF Ltd has been elected as the new Chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA), the national industry body for the automotive tyre sector in India. Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director Bridgestone India is the new Vice Chairman of ATMA.

A graduate from the Madras Christian College, Mammen obtained his Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Ashland University, US. An extensive training with B F Goodrich Tire & Co., and Uniroyal Goodrich Tire & Co. during his stay in the USA paid rich dividends during later years in his career. Mammen became the Managing Director of MRF Ltd in 2004 and Vice Chairman and Managing Director in 2017. He has great passion towards cricket and motorsports.

Mammen takes over as Chairman of ATMA at a crucial juncture as the organisation is celebrating 2025 as Golden Jubilee year.

Speaking about his priorities for the association, Mammen talked about reaching out to more members so as to make ATMA more inclusive.

With a firm belief that Indian Tyre Industry should have plans in place to be a major global supplier during the decade, Mammen said, he would work towards policy enablers so as to make industry more competitive and technologically superior to meet the needs of developed countries.

As sustainability, reduction of carbon footprint in manufacturing and supply chain etc. gathers momentum, the industry is working towards technological advances to create environmentally friendly products. Regenerative and recycled raw materials (representing circular economy) are being given priority. There is a need to highlight these sustainability aspects of the Tyre Industry including the focus on green energy and reduced water load in manufacturing.

The INROAD Project as an industry initiative to add 200,000 hectares of new rubber plantation will be completing the target planting in the next two years. Over the next five years, focus needs to be given to upgradation of quality and training of the stakeholders, added Mammen.

Set up in 1975, ATMA is amongst the most active national industry bodies in the country representing Rs 90000 crore (US$11 bn) automotive tyre industry. Six large tyre companies comprising a mix of Indian and International tyre majors and representing over 90% of production of tyres in India are members of the Association. ATMA members include Apollo, Bridgestone India, Ceat, Goodyear India, JK and MRF.