People

Germany: Sweden-based CheckProof has appointed Peter Erbel as its Country Manager, Germany. Erbel previously worked for FLSmidth and associated companies from 2007 to 2023 in sales, product and project management roles.

CheckProof is a software-as-a-service company supplying heavy industry markets including aggregate, asphalt, cement, ready mix concrete and heavy machinery. The company says it has seen strong, continual growth in Germany and appointing Erbel is planned to support existing clients and grow the business in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. CheckProof has clients in 38 countries.

India: Vinita Singhania has been appointed as the chair of JK Lakshmi Cement. She will succeed Bharat Hari Singhania when he resigns from the post in April 2024. Bharat Hari Singhania has been appointed as the company’s chair emeritus and strategic advisor.

Vinita Singhania has been on the board of directors of JK Lakshmi Cement since 1989 and became its managing director in 2021. She became the first female president of the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) and also led the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCBM). She is also a board member for JK Paper, Bengal & Assam Company, Udaipur Cement Works, HEG and other companies.

Bharat Hari Singhania holds over 65 years experience in the cement, automotive tyres, paper and synthetics sectors. He became the managing director of JK Lakshmi Cement in 1994 and then its chair in 2013. He stepped down as the company’s managing director in 2021. He is also a former president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and chair of Indian Jute Mills Association and Indian Jute Industries Research Association, Kolkata.

Egypt: Misr Cement has appointed Hassan Gabry as its chief executive officer and managing director. He will also become a member of the group’s board of directors.

Gabry holds over 30 years of professional experience, with 20 years at cement companies. He worked as the Sudan Country Manager for Cementia Trading in the early 2000s before becoming the Algeria Commercial Director for ASEC Cement. He later worked for the Arabian Cement Company in Egypt as its Head of Sales from 2009 and then as its Chief Commercial Officer from 2015 to early 2024. He holds a degree in economics and accountancy from the Ain Shams University in Cairo.

New Zealand: Holcim New Zealand has appointed Michael Miller as its Executive General Manager. He succeeds Kevin Larcombe in the post, who moves to Holcim Australia as General Manager - NSW & ACT Concrete. Miller previously worked as the Chief Strategy Officer for AdBri in Australia and previously joined the company in 2007. He holds a degree in management and marketing from the University of South Australia.

Spain: The board of directors of Ciment Català has appointed Ana Salgado as the head director of the Catalan Cement Manufacturers Association. She succeeds Alejandro Josa in the post, who will continue working as the secretary of the board of directors.

Salgado previously worked as the Technical and Environmental Manager for Ciment Català. Before this she held the position of Environmental Engineer for Vescem and she has worked as researcher for the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research. She holds a Ph.D in Environmental Engineering Technology from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.