The presence of the Natural Stone Strategic Alliance (NSSA) at the Marmomac 2026 international exhibition marked a major milestone for the global natural stone sector. The alliance held its first annual General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in Verona, formalizing its transition into a permanent institutional structure.
Presidential Election and Institutional Framework
A key highlight of the assembly was the completion of internal procedures to elect the first permanent Board of Directors and officers of the NSSA. During the session, Jim Hieb, CEO of the Natural Stone Institute (NSI), was named the first President of the Alliance.
Concurrently, NSSA members approved the permanent composition of the Board of Directors and adopted updated bylaws, establishing a solid foundation for global governance, operational coordination, and transparency.
Expansion of International Representation
The assembly in Verona reaffirmed the alliance’s dynamic trajectory. The NSSA officially welcomed new members—including IMIB (Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association) from Turkey and Center Stone from Russia—expanding its footprint to 11 national organizations and associations across 4 continents.
NSSA leadership reaffirmed its strategic target to further broaden its international base, aiming to incorporate a total of 20 national associations.
Forthcoming Announcement of Board Members
While the election process was successfully concluded, the alliance is expected to publish the complete list of individual officers and board members in the coming period.
The establishment of the NSSA as a permanent institutional body signals a new era of global collaboration, unified representation, and strategic alignment for the natural stone industry on international standards, trade policy, and sector challenges.
