People

US: Vulcan Materials Company has announced four personnel changes as part its process to develop its new leadership team for the future. Danny R Shepherd, aged 61, has been appointed to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. He was formerly the executive vice president of construction materials.

Robert A Wason IV, aged 61 and senior vice president - general counsel, will retire from Vulcan at the end of October 2013. He will now assume the role of senior advisor to the executive management team until that time.

Michael R Mills, aged 52 currently senior vice president - east region, has been appointed to the position of senior vice president, general counsel. He will report to Donald M James, chairman and chief executive officer. Mills will also serve as the company's corporate compliance officer.

John R. McPherson, aged 44 and currently senior vice president - strategic planning and business development, has been appointed to the position of senior vice president - east region. He replaces Michael Mills and will report to Danny Shepherd in his new role as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Trinidad: Trinidad Cement, a subsidiary of TCL Group, has appointed Alejando Alberto Ramirez as a director. The appointment was effective from 12 October 2012. Ramirez succeeds Luis Miguel Cantu Pinto who retired from the board of directors on 5 October 2012. Ramirez was elected on 12 October 2012 at TCL's annual meeting to fill the vacancy.

India: Sagar Cements has announced its director, Wemer CR Poot, has resigned from the board with effect from 28 September 2012. John Eric Fernand Pascal Cesar Bertrand has been appointed as the new company director from 17 October 2012.

Pakistan: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has re-elected Aizaz Mansoor Sheikh unanimously as its at its Annual General Meeting held at APCMA Secretariat, Lahore. Names of the other elected office-bearers for the year 2012-13 were also announced at the meeting.

A statement issued by APCMA said that Sayeed Tariq Saigol of Maple Leaf Cement Factory and Muhammad Ali Tabba of Lucky Cement were also unanimously re-elected as Vice Chairmen of the Association.

Aizaz Mansoor Sheikh of Kohat Cement Company has served as Chairman of the APCMA for eight years since 1992. The current term 2012-13 is his second consecutive term as Chairman APCMA.

M Raza Mansha of DG Khan Cement, Amer Faruque of Cherat Cement, Rehmat Khan of Lafarge Cement Pakista, M Sabir of Fauji Cemen, Asmat Ullah Khan Niazi of Askari Cement, Syed Asif Shah of Bestway Cement, Babar Bashir Nawaz of Attock Cement Pakistan, Mazhar Iqbal of Pioneer Cement, M Tousif Paracha of Gharibwal Cement were elected as Members of the Executive Committee.

Prominent industry issues discussed at the meeting included were the non-availability of railways wagons for export to India, high diesel rates and its consequential effects on the high input costs that the industry is confronted with.

South Africa: Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), the biggest producer of cement products in South Africa, has appointed Ketso Gordhan as CEO from 1 January 2013. Gordhan will succeed current CEO Paul Stuiver, who will have completed his contract.

Gordhan will join the group's board as CEO-designate from 1 November 2012. His most recent role has been in the South African Presidency, where from 2009 he developed performance metrics and targets for government ministries. Before working for the Presidency, Gordhan was head of private equity at FirstRand Financial Services Group for almost a decade. He was also city manager of Johannesburg between 1999 and 2000.

Previously Gordhan was the campaigns manager for the African National Congress and policy co-ordinator between 1990 and 1994. He was also director-general of the Department of Transport between 1994 and 1999 and was involved in privatising Airports Company SA and setting up the first privately funded toll road to Maputo. The South African National Roads Agency was also created during this period.

"Ketso brings a wealth and blend of experience in business and in government, as well as knowledge of various industries," said PPC group chairman Bheki Sibiya.