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Turkey: Medcem has appointed Ruhi Bilge as the director of its integrated Mersin cement plant. He has worked in the cement sector for over 20 years, most recently holding the position of production director for Kümaş Refractories. Prior to this he worked for cement companies including Bursa Çimento, Vicat’s subsidiary Baştaş Çimento and Norm Cement.

Canada: Concrete Economics managing director and long-time figure in the North American cement industry Colin Sutherland has died. Colleagues from throughout his 30 year-career spanning Canada, France and the US have been posting memories of Sutherland. Olsen Management Consulting president and Sutherland’s former Lafarge and Votorantim Cimentos colleague Richard Olsen said “We've lost a dear friend and long-time colleague. Colin was highly respected and valued in the cement industry and had developed a depth of knowledge and insight that was unique.” He continued “Colin's infectious laughter, ever-positive attitude and charm endeared him to many. He'll be sorely missed.”

Before joining Concrete Economics in May 2021, Sutherland was president and co-founder of SC Market Analytics and a board member of US Concrete. Previous positions also included vice president, commercial strategy, for Votorantim Cimentos North America; vice president, business development, integration and strategy for Holcim US and vice president, cementitious materials for Lafarge Cement. Between 1995 and 2001, Sutherland served as director of corporate development for Blue Circle North America, where he subsequently became group integration director following its merger with Lafarge Cement.

Russia: Soyuzcement, the national cement manufacturing union, has elected Daria Martynkina as its executive director. She previously worked as the public relations head at Siberian Cement and as an advisor to SibCem’s first vice president Gennady Rasskazov. Martynkina trained as a journalist at Moscow State University and is also a graduate from the Moscow State Law Academy.

Canada: The Cement Association of Canada has appointed Sarah Petrevan as its Director of Sustainability. She previously worked as the Policy Director for Clean Energy Canada and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. She is a graduate of Victoria University in Toronto.

Denmark: The board of directors of FLSmidth has nominated current vice chairman Tom Knutzen as the new chair of the board and Mads Nipper as vice chair. Knutzen will succeed Vagn Sørensen as chair. Sørensen has decided to step down as chair of the board of FLSmidth since his election in 2011. He has decided not to seek re-election. Both nominations will be voted upon at the company’s annual general meeting in late March 2022.

Knutzen has been a member of FLSmidth’s board of directors since 2012 and is the current vice chair. He is also chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. His career includes his current role as chief executive officer (CEO) of Jungbunzlauer Suisse, from which he has resigned effective end April 2022, CEO of Danisco, CEO of NKT Holding and non-executive board positions with Nordea Bank, Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker and Tivoli.

Nipper is the current CEO of the multinational power company Ørsted, which develops, constructs and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities and bioenergy plants. He brings an international background to FLSmidth including renewable energy, energy efficiency, water management and water conservation. As a member of World Economic Forum's Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, he leads the Power Working Group. He is also co-chair of the roundtable of hydrogen production under the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and is vice chair of the international food company Danish Crown.