Today, Euro NCAP announces that its next Secretary General will be Michiel van Ratingen. He will take up his post in the autumn, when the current Secretary General Adrian Hobbs retires.

Michiel van Ratingen is a Mechanical Engineer with extensive experience in the field of vehicle safety. Michiel worked at TNO, as head of Automotive Safety, and later at First Technology Safety Systems.

"With Michiel van Ratingen Euro NCAP can continue to be the most influential safety adviser to European consumers aiming to choose the safest possible car. Michiel will lead the organisation into an exciting future with the advanced safety technologies that are now being developed" says Claes Tingvall, Chairman of Euro NCAP.

Adrian Hobbs retires at the end of 2007 after over 35 years working in accident research, vehicle safety and Euro NCAP. Adrian initiated the Euro NCAP programme and has taken a leading role in its development. He joined the Euro NCAP Secretariat in 2003.

"Adrian Hobbs has helped Euro NCAP elevate car safety to a level no one could have anticipated ten years ago. Adrian has been one of the world leaders in vehicle safety" says Claes Tingvall.

Editors note: Organisations participating to Euro NCAP include the Departments of Transport of Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Catalonia as well as the FIA Foundation, the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC), Thatcham and the International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) on behalf of the European consumer organisations.

For further information please contact: Euro NCAP office at +32 2 400 77 40 or info@euroncap.com