Euro NCAP elects UTAC’s Céline Vallaude as President
11th October 2024
This week, Euro NCAP’s Board of Directors met to elect its new President Céline Vallaude, representative for the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and currently Head of Expertise & Vehicle Regulation at the France-based UTAC. Niels Ebbe Jacobsen, CEO at International Consumer Research & Testing (ICRT) will finish his term at the end of the year.
Euro NCAP has played a pivotal role in the implementation of safety systems in new vehicles sold in Europe for more than 25 years, becoming a flagbearer for safety worldwide. This safety leadership can be attributed to its ability to continuously update its requirements, encouraging industry to achieve the highest possible standards in a cost-effective manner. I intend Euro NCAP to continue to maintain this agility and level of expertise to support its growth. My aim will also be to ensure that Euro NCAP continues to manage its diverse testing programmes within an effective business model, maintaining financial sustainability whilst upholding the quality and independence of its assessment.
— Céline Vallaude, Euro NCAP Chairman-Elect
It was an honour to move Euro NCAP forward and contribute to a more secure future for the organisation. There cannot be anything more important than the aim of saving thousands of lives on European roads. I am happy that the Board of Directors has elected unanimously Céline Vallaude as Euro NCAP’s new President, the FIA’s Laurianne Krid as Treasurer and BAST’s Andre Seeck as Secretary, this shows the combined strength we have as a Board.
— Niels Ebbe Jacobsen, Outgoing Euro NCAP President
I very much look forward to welcoming Céline Vallaude as President of Euro NCAP, Truck Safe and Green NCAP. I have no doubt her experience will assist Euro NCAP in meeting the important milestones that lie ahead and spearhead important developments in the organisation. Euro NCAP has much to look forward and an exciting time ahead with a new rating scheme to be unveiled in 2026.
— Dr. Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP’s presidential term lasts for two years.
Editor's Note
Céline Vallaude currently manages the Technical Expertise Department (includes regulation, Euro NCAP, testing) of UTAC Group, one of Euro NCAP’s accredited laboratories and which has been representing the French Ministry of Ecological Transition since the beginning of Euro NCAP. She graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from ENSEM (École nationale supérieure d'électricité et de mécanique de Nancy) in 2001, specialising in fluid dynamics with a course at Bath University UK. Céline joined UTAC in 2002 as a test engineer in emissions.
Céline has been French expert for the Ministry of Ecological Transition for over 18 years, in meetings with the European Commission and at UNECE (GRPE and WP29). In 2015, Céline was appointed project manager for the Dieselgate MoT test campaign. Her involvement with Euro NCAP started in 2017, initially as vice-chair of the Green NCAP programme and from October 2017, representing the French MoT at the BoD. These two experiences have provided her with valuable insights into how Euro NCAP operates as a consumer association and the challenges it faces to keep the programme going and start new initiatives. Throughout her career, Céline has focused on enhancing the social and environmental impact of vehicles by supporting the development of regulations and protocols, as well as validating vehicle compliance.
For media information, please contact Cordelia Wilson at media@euroncap.com.
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About Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP organizes crash & safety tests on new vehicles and provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe. Established in 1997 and backed by several European Governments, motoring, consumer and insurance organizations, Euro NCAP has rapidly become a catalyst for encouraging significant safety improvements to new car design.Euro NCAP ratings strictly apply to vehicles of the specifications offered in Europe. The ratings do not necessarily apply to models offered in other regions, even when sold under an identical name, as production specification and equipment may vary.