Thierry Krier, president and CEO of Kuhn Group, was elected as new President of CEMA, the European Assn. representing Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers.

Krier commented on his election saying, “A number of key policy challenges are appearing in front of us. The next two years will see the finalization of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as well as the implementation of the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy. With countries still in COVID-crisis mode, the agricultural sector as a whole demonstrated its resilience and ability to provide essential goods to all Europeans. Going forward, it will be important to take action to balance societal demands for sustainability with a necessary profitability for the farm producers, while ensuring that European agriculture remains competitive.”

A French and U.S. national agricultural engineer, with a master’s degree in international business, Mr. Krier brings to CEMA his 30-years’ experience in Kuhn, Europe’s largest manufacturer of agricultural implements. He has been a CEMA Vice-President for two terms.

Thierry Krier takes over from Anthony van der Ley (LEMKEN), who last month was elected President of the German association representing agricultural machinery manufacturers, VDMA Landtechnik.

Mr. van der Ley will carry on his engagement within CEMA with a Vice-Presidency appointment, a role that he will share with Vice Presidents Christoph Wigger (John Deere) and Paul Snauwaert (CNH Industrial). The three Vice Presidents were elected by the CEMA General Assembly during the Nov. 26 meeting.

Additionally, in its Oct. 28 meeting, the CEMA Technical Board elected Dr. Thomas Lorf (CLAAS) as its new chairman.

A German national but operating from Paris, Dr. Lorf is COO of CLAAS Tractors, responsible for R&D and production, He has worked at CLAAS for 28 years.

On the same meeting the Technical Board elected Christophe Jeanroy (Kuhn) as its new Vice-President.

The CEMA Technical Board is the leading technical body within CEMA. It manages Europe’s leading industry experts from manufacturers of agricultural machinery and national trade associations to discuss and decide on the industry's views on the regulatory aspects of EU legislation impacting farm machinery.