Owens-Illinois, Inc., a world leader in the manufacture of glass containers, has appointed Vitaliano Torno as Managing Director of OI Europe, effective immediately.
Torno succeeds Erik Bouts as the highest level manager at OI in Europe and will report to Andrés López, President of Glass Containers and Director of Operations.
As head of the larger OI region, Torno will continue to guide the company through its long-term asset optimization program. His extensive business experience will help respond to the growing needs of European customers, and will serve to promote the company's leadership in providing sustainable, healthy and safe packaging solutions.
Torno has been working in the glass industry for more than 25 years. He held the position of Managing Director of OI operations in Central Europe (Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary) in the late 90s and in Italy in the 2000s. Following the acquisition of BSN by OI in 2004, Torno was Appointed Vice President of Sales and Business Development at OI Europe. After working in various commercial leadership roles for the region, he was appointed Vice President of European Territorial Coordination for OI, a position he will maintain in his new position.
"Vitaliano has extensive knowledge of European customers and markets, and has a long history in the glass industry," says Al Stoucken, President and CEO of OI. "He has been the architect of the recent restructuring of the region, so we hope that the strong momentum we are experiencing in that area will continue."
OI's European division comprises 8.000 employees in 10 different countries. With more than 2.1 billion euros in sales in 2013, the region represents approximately 40% of the company's global sales.
