The WFO is proud to announce the new composition of its Executive Committee for 2026, following the new appointments decided at last year’s General Assembly. In addition to the new Polish presidency and British vice-presidency, executive members from China, Germany, Spain, and Japan will be joined by new executive members from Türkiye and France, as well as those from South Korea, the United States, and the Czech Republic, who have joined the group at various times over the past year.
‘These new executives will undoubtedly usher in a new era for the Board in a context where global cooperation is crucial, I am very excited about the new ideas they are introducing. Their impressive professional background helps to get an idea of the impact they can have on the global foundry community,’ stated WFO Secretary General José Javier González.
Meet the New WFO Executives
Below is a brief introduction to the WFO Executives joining the team in 2026 and those who assumed their positions last year:
Ali Esat Kutmangil (Türkiye) began his professional career while still in college, playing an active role in the family businesses. Between 2003 and 2009, he served as a member of the Kutman Group’s board of directors. In 2007, he joined Kutes, where he initially worked in Business Development and Sales. From 2008 to 2016, he contributed to the company’s strategic direction as a member of the board of directors. Since 2016, he has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Kutes.
Guillaume Allart (France) has over 20 years of experience leading international operations and teams in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has held positions as technical director and senior executive at major companies such as Fonderie de Brousseval and Montreuil (FR), the Meita Group (SRB), Honeywell Turbo Technologies (CZ), and PSA Peugeot Citroën (FR). He is currently Vice President of the French Foundry Technical Association (ATF) and Technical and Customer Service Director at Elkem SA.
Seung Mok Yoo (South Korea) has served as director of the Foundry Technology Center and director of the joint R&D laboratory in Aachen (Germany). He is the Director of the International Cooperation Department and Executive Managing Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Institute at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH). He has received awards from the National Science and Technology Commission and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy of South Korea. Dr. Yoo is currently a Senior Researcher at the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Institute of KITECH.
Bradford D. Muller (United States) spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., where he worked for the U.S. Department of State and Edelman Worldwide, the world’s largest public relations and public affairs firm, among others. Brad began his career at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) within the U.S. Department of State during the George H.W. Bush administration. At Edelman, Brad put his foreign policy experience to work for the late Michael Deaver, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan. Currently, Brad leads corporate communications and government affairs at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, the leading U.S. manufacturer of cast iron and plastic pipes and fittings for plumbing systems.
Vladimír Krutiš (Czech Republic) currently holds the position of Assistant Professor at the Brno University of Technology (BUT), in the Institute of Manufacturing Technologies, Department of Foundry Engineering. From 2001 to 2018, he served as head of business development and later as sales director for Central and Eastern Europe at the ESI Group. He is vice president of the Czech Foundry Society and chair of its Technical Committee, as well as chair of the WFO’s working group on management. Since 2019, he has been responsible for the development of precision casting technology at BUT.
The composition of the WFO Executive Committee for 2026 is presented below:
President: Rafal Danko (Poland)
Vice President: Lee Jenkins (UK)
Treasurer: Xabier Gonzalez (Spain)
Elected Members:
Seung Mok Yoo (South Korea)
Bradford Muller (USA)
Kazumichi Shimizu (Japan)
Vladimir Krutis (Czech Republic)
Ali Esat Kutmangil (Türkiye)
Representatives of Presidents council:
Yanchun Lou (China)
Carsten Kuhlgatz (Germany)
ABOUT THE WFO
The World Foundry Organization is the recognised centre of strategic foundry knowledge, designed to develop, enhance and improve the production of metal castings through the latest technical and sustainable industry practices.
Through the involvement of the member associations in 30 countries the WFO creates a network of technical knowledge and resources that is a vital tool to every foundry association, foundry and foundry worker throughout the world.
The WFO is a neutral body that represents the collective needs of the members on a global stage.
