Euro NCAP has appointed Michiel van Ratingen as its next secretary general.

He will start his new post in autumn after current secretary general Adrian Hobbs retires.

Van Ratingen is a mechanical engineer and has worked with TNO, the safety consultancy company, as head of automotive safety.

Hobbs retires after working within accident research for over 35 years. He initiated and developed the Euro NCAP programme.

“Hobbs has helped Euro NCAP elevate car safety to a level no one could have anticipated 10 years ago. He has been one of the world leaders in vehicle safety,” said Claes Tingvall, chairman of Euro NCAP.