European Industrial Hemp Association Announces Leadership Change
The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) is one of the most established, respected, and important organizations on the planet. EIHA is the only pan-European membership organization in the industrial hemp sector and represents the common interests of hemp farmers, producers, and traders working with hemp fibers, shives, seeds, oil, leaves, and cannabinoids.
The organization’s main task is to represent, serve, and protect the hemp sector in the European Union and international policymaking. EIHA focuses on the different areas of the application of hemp, including its use for textiles, construction materials, paper, cosmetics, feed, food, and supplements.
EIHA recently announced a big change in the organization’s leadership. Below is more information about the leadership change via a press release from the organization:
The European Industrial Hemp Association announces an important leadership change: Lorenza Romanese will be stepping down as Managing Director, and Francesco Mirizzi, currently Senior Policy Advisor at EIHA, will take over the role.
Mr Mirizzi has been part of the EIHA team for the past five years, where he has worked closely with members and stakeholders on all policy files. His expertise spans key dossiers such as feed, construction, food, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is especially timely, as these dossiers are currently in active development at the EU level. His leadership comes at a crucial moment and positions EIHA strongly for the next phase of advocacy and growth.
Ms Romanese, who has led EIHA since 2019, was instrumental in establishing the association’s Brussels presence and building up its influence at the EU level. Her strategic vision and relentless commitment over the past six years helped position hemp as a serious and growing sector in Europe. “It has been a privilege to lead EIHA through these transformative years. I am proud of what
we’ve achieved together. Francesco’s leadership comes at the right time—his topics are hot and his expertise unmatched. I’m not going far—I’ll continue to support Francesco, the board, and all of you as an advisor, especially on the Novel Food Consortium.” – she states.
While stepping back from the day-to-day role, Ms Romanese will remain involved with EIHA, as a senior advisor, continuing to support the Novel Food Consortium. She will stay on board part-time to advise on strategy and the next steps for the Novel Food applications in the EU and in the UK.
This announcement comes after the EIHA General Meeting on the 11th of June. While negotiations were already underway, Ms. Romanese was still in the middle of the transition process and no formal announcement was made. With everything now confirmed, we are pleased to share the news.
Monica Solano Leon will remain a central point of contact for members, continuing to handle administration, Consortium coordination, and general support. Monica’s continuity ensures stable operations and consistent communication for the entire EIHA network.
We welcome this change with optimism and trust you will receive it with the same enthusiasm as we do. Mr Mirizzi has our full confidence – his dedication, insight, and collaborative spirit have already proven invaluable, and we are eager to see his leadership in action. “I am honoured to step into this role and build on the incredible work Lorenza has done. As the policy landscape
evolves, EIHA must stay proactive, informed, and united. I look forward to working closely with our members and partners to strengthen our voice and impact in Brussels.” – Mr Mirizzi affirms. “In the coming year we will focus on clarifying once and for all the legal status of all parts of hemp, accelerating the Novel Food applications and further increasing awareness of the potential of hemp in the bioeconomy sector” – he adds.
We thank Ms Romanese warmly for her remarkable contributions over the past six years, and we look forward to continuing this journey with Mr Mirizzi leading the way.