LONDON (June 22)—Hidde Smit, managing director of the Economic and Social Institute at the free University of Amsterdam, will be the next secretary-general of the International Rubber Study Group, succeeding A.F.S. Budiman, whose term expires at the end of the year.
Smit, 60, is best-known for his economic models of the natural rubber market, which attempt to predict medium- to long-term supply and demand and price movements.
The IRSG confirmed that Smit had been offered the post and that a contract has been signed but declined to offer any more details. Smit said he has signed the contract for the position, but there are a few formalities outstanding before the announcement can be made public.
Budiman has been IRSG secretary-general since November 1999. Before that he was executive director of the Indonesian rubber organization, GAPKINDO, for 11 years.