World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Coulomb steps down as head of IIR

FRANCE: Didier Coulomb has stepped down as director general of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) after 20 years in the role. 

He now officially hands over to Yosr Allouche to manage and develop the organisation. Allouche, the first woman, and the first person born outside of France to assume the role, was voted in at last year’s International Congress of Refrigeration in Paris.

Coulomb joined the IIR in 2004 after two years as secretary general at the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development. In a career spanning 40 years, he previously held roles at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Directorate General for Food Ministry of Agriculture and the High Commission for Planning.

“I am counting on Yosr, on the new team that is being put in place at the IIR’s head office and on all of you to continue and amplify the IIR’s action for the good of humanity, and to make it better known and appreciated around you,” he said on his departure. “A new strategy has just been drawn up and validated by our statutory bodies, based in particular on actions to be carried out, country by country, which will lead to new services and a new organisation.”

Related stories:

Dr Yosr Allouche named IIR director general21 August 2023
FRANCE: Dr Yosr Allouche has become the first woman, and the first person born outside of France, to hold the role of director general of the International Institute of Refrigeration. Read more…

Latest News

14th May 2025

GBV ball valves expand Sanhua SS range

SPAIN: Sanhua has expanded its stainless steel valve range with new GBV ball valves for commercial air conditioning, freezing, deep-freezing applications and other refrigeration systems.
14th May 2025

Bitzer expands oil cooler capacities

GERMANY: Bitzer’s new OWD series of water cooled oil coolers extends the capacity of its existing OW range and improves heat exchange efficiency.
14th May 2025

Chillventa 2026 to be 15% larger

GERMANY: The organiser of Chillventa, the European air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump exhibition, has announced an expansion of the event in 2026 with the addition of a further hall.
14th May 2025

Samsung targets applied HVAC and data centres

SOUTH KOREA: Growing demand for data centre cooling solutions and a desire to expand its applied HVAC portfolio is said to be behind Samsung’s €1.5bn purchase of the FläktGroup. 
14th May 2025

Samsung to buy FläktGroup for €1.5bn

GERMANY: Korean manufacturer Samsung Electronics is set to acquire all the shares of FläktGroup from investment company Triton for €1.5bn.
13th May 2025

CO2/water brazed plate heat exchanger

DENMARK: A CO2/water brazed plate heat exchanger designed specifically for CO2 transcritical systems is the latest introduction from Danfoss.