O-I names managing director of Europe

Owens-Illinois (O-I) has named Vitaliano Torno managing director of O-I Europe.

Torno succeeds Erik Bouts as the most senior level executive for O-I in Europe and will report to Andres Lopez, president of glass containers and chief operating officer.

As the head of O-I's largest region, Torno will continue shepherding the company through its long-term asset optimization program.

Torno has worked in the glass industry for more than 25 years. He served as general manager of O-I's operations in central Europe (Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary) in the late 1990s, and in Italy in the early 2000s.

Following O-I's acquisition of BSN in 2004, Torno was named vice president of sales and business development for O-I Europe.

After serving in several commercial leadership roles for the region, he was named vice president of O-I's European country organization, a role he will maintain in his new position.

O-I's European business comprises 8,000 employees in 10 different countries. With more than $2.8bn sales in 2013, the region represents 40% of the company's global sales.