The International Motorcycle Manufacturers’ Association (IMMA) has appointed a new president for the 2023-2025 term. Eric de Seynes, current Yamaha Motor Europe president and CEO and long-time motorcycle enthusiast, was elected to take over from Rakesh Sharma, the 2020-23 president.
De Seynes, nominated by ACEM (the European manufacturers association), was elected alongside Johannes Loman, nominated by FAMI, who was elected vice president. De Seynes is also a senior executive officer at Yamaha Motor Company, and Vice President of ACEM. Loman is a director at PT Astra International Tbk Indonesia and president of the IMMA-member associations FAMI (Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries).
Accepting his election, De Seynes pledged to advance safe and sustainable motorcycling through education, innovation, and cooperation. “Thank you for your confidence in electing me. I am fully committed to the task and look forward to working with the members and with the secretary general, defending and promoting the industry and motorcycling.”
A familiar face at the EICMA show each year, de Seynes inherited his father’s passion for motorcycles at a very young age. He started competing in motorbike racing in 1974 and took part in the Paris-Dakar in 1982. In 2016, and after holding several leadership positions in the motorcycle industry, he was appointed group executive officer of Yamaha Motor Company, before becoming president and CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe, a first for a non-Japanese employee.