The Aluminum Association’s Aluminum Transportation Group (ATG) announced this week that Alcoa’s John Thomas has been appointed as its chairman and Ganesh Panneer of Novelis as its vice chairman. Thomas succeeds Tom Boney of Novelis in the position.
“These new appointments will ensure that the aluminum industry’s transportation group remains well-positioned as the adoption of aluminum solutions continues to accelerate across the auto sector,” said Aluminum Association president and CEO Heidi Brock. “The Aluminum Association thanks Tom Boney for his leadership as Chairman and welcomes our new Chairman John Thomas and Vice Chairman Ganesh Panneer.”
Thomas follows Boney as he ends his two-year tenure as chairman, bringing over two decades of engineering and commercial experience to the position. He joined Alcoa eight years ago and was responsible for several of the firm’s most significant rolled-product accounts, including automakers and other top-tier customers.
“It is a privilege to assume this leadership role as the aluminum industry embarks on the next phase of growth to help shape the future of automotive design,” Thomas said. “Aluminum solutions are tougher, safer, more environmentally sustainable, and create greater design flexibility for automakers. It’s an exciting time to help lead the industry forward to even greater success.”
Paneer is the current vice president and general manager of automotive for Novelis North America. He has almost two decades of experience in in sales, operations, strategy, and product management. He started at Novelis in 2011 as director of corporate strategy, and moved through various other roles until his latest appointment earlier this month to his current post. He is responsible for sales activities, program launch and development, supply chain and logistics, service and order fulfillment, and demand forecasting.
“I am honored and humbled to join the ATG executive team, a group of leaders I’ve enjoyed collaborating with over the years,” Panneer said. “During this important time for our industry, we will continue to work with OEMs and partners to meet their needs for innovative lightweighting solutions.”