In Memoriam Manfred Swarovski: IRF Salutes Visionary Industry Leader
The International Road Federation (IRF Global) mourns the passing of Manfred Swarovski (1940-2018), and salutes the vision, energy and passion of the founder and chairman of the SWARCO Group.
Manfred Swarovski established SWARCO in 1969 as a glass beads manufacturer. Over the ensuing five decades, the Group became a global player with 70 branch offices in 24 countries and 3,700 employees. Today, SWARCO is a global market leader in the fields of road safety and intelligent traffic management.
Manfred Swarovski also applied his extraordinary talent in guiding the work of the International Road Federation whose Executive Committee he served on. He noted that the IRF "had consistently pursued its mission to encourage and promote the development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable roads through the exchange of knowledge and ideas".
"Manfred Swarovski will be remembered as one of the most influential industry leaders of his generation and a tireless advocate for our sector" said IRF Chairman Eng. Abdullah Al-Mogbel "He richly deserved the IRF Lifetime Achievement Award that I presented to him at the opening ceremonies of the 17th IRF World Meeting & Exhibition in Riyadh".
"Manfred's leading idea was to improve the quality of life for all road users" noted IRF President & CEO C. Patrick Sankey "The innovations he helped introduce have impacted, and in many cases saved, the lives of countless citizens and fully prepare SWARCO for the next generation of mobility solutions".