Hyundai Mobis CEO secures ISO presidency
ISO announces its new president at its 2022 Annual Meeting where discussions on how standards can support international trade, innovation and climate change were the focus of the week-long meeting.
The ISO General Assembly 2022, saw Dr Sung Hwan Cho confirmed by a considerable majority as President of the International Organization for Standardization for a term of two years, beginning in 2024. Delegates, of which there were more than 5,300, participated both physically and virtually with access to fifty sessions focussing on a range of topics exploring how international standards can be improved and leveraged to support climate action, innovation, trade growth, international trade and sustainable economic development.
The general assembly took place on Thursday 22 September, as part of the week-long ISO Annual Meeting 2022 in the port city of Abu Dhabi which saw representatives from over 120 countries discuss, amongst other issues, how to lower international trade barriers, increase collaboration across industries and support climate action. The event was hosted by the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, where the assembled delegates were invited to cast their votes to determine the next ISO President.
“The ISO Annual Meeting 2022 is the occasion for us to gather, share and shape the future of international standards and their role in an ever-changing world.”
Dr Hwan, the chief executive officer of Korean auto parts maker, Hyundai Mobis, was nominated by the ISO member for South Korea, KATS (the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards). He will serve as President-elect in 2023, playing an active role in ISO affairs along with current President Ulrika Francke, until he officially takes over the reins in 2024.
The ISO’s annual general assembly meeting to discuss the strategic objectives of ISO went on hiatus due to the global pandemic, with this year’s event the first in two years, and the first of its kind with a catch-up digital programme, on-demand video and written transcripts.
From digital trust to global trade, there was a review of how standards are meeting the London Declaration commitments, with the event also seeing ISO members approve a resolution in keeping with them to promote International Standards within their own countries in order to accelerate progress on climate action.
Along with the new president elect, four new ISO Council members were also elected during the general assembly: Brazil’s Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas, the Egyptian Organization for Standardization & Quality, Italy’s Ente Italiano di Normazione, and the Instituto de Normas Técnicas of Costa Rica.
With a new change in leadership and a focus on a sustainable global future, the international body is set to make great strides in the coming times. Next year’s ISO Annual Meeting is to take place in Brisbane, Australia.
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