People

Costa Rica: Cementos Progreso has appointed Andrés Bolaños Amerling as Country Director for Costa Rica. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s of Business Studies. He has worked in the cement and concrete sector for 20 years, including more than 16 years at Cemex and four years at Cicomex, working in Costa Rica for both companies. He joined Cementos Progreso in September 2022.

Bolaños said "I begin this new phase with the commitment to continue building on Progreso's 125-year legacy in the region, and particularly in my country. We will continue to invest in the renovation and improvement of our equipment and plants, always with the goal of being our customers' preferred supplier, without compromising the safety of our employees and stakeholders, who are our number one priority."

Kenya: A judge has upheld the appointment of Mohamed Osman Adan as the managing director of East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC). Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Byram Ongaya ruled that Adan was the only applicant to meet the 70% score threshold as prescribed in the company’s Human Resources and Procedures Manual.

“The court finds that the board’s recommendation that Mr Adan be appointed the managing director cannot be defeated upon the tests in Article 73(2) (a) on selection on the basis of personal integrity, competence, and suitability; and, Article 232 (g) on fair competition and merit as the basis of appointments and promotions,” said Ongaya.

Mr Adan’s appointment had been challenged by lawyer Apollo Mboya, who alleged that the board of directors had overturned Kenyan President William Ruto’s appointment of Bruno Oguda Obodha as managing director.

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia has appointed Indrieffouny Indra as President Director following its annual general meeting (AGM) held on 23 May 2025. He succeeds Donny Arsal in the role, who had been in post since 2021. Notable roles in Indrieffouny Indra’s employment history include President Director at Semen Padang from 2024 to 2025, Director of Operations at Semen Padang from 2022 to 2024 and Independent Commissioner at Wijaya Karya Beton from 2020 - 2022. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Sriwijaya University and a master of management qualification from Andalas University.

Other appointments confirmed at the AGM include Dicky Saelan as Director of Sales and Marketing, Dennis Pratistha as Director of Business Development and Strategy, Sigit Prastowo as Director of Finance and Risk Management, Hadi Setiadi as Director of Human Capital and Sigit Widyawan as President Commissioner.

India: Grasim Industries has appointed Hemant Kumar Kadel as its Chief Financial Officer. He will start the role on 15 August 2025. He succeeds Pavan Kumar Jain.

Kadel, aged 56 years, originally joined Aditya Birla Group in 1991 as a management trainee. He has worked across multiple businesses in the group, including Aditya Birla Nuvo, Birla White and Grasim CFD. Notable work in the cement sector includes expanding and restructuring the group’s white cement business. He currently heads the Corporate Taxation Function for Grasim Industries, where he oversees taxation, internal audit, risk management and mergers and acquisitions. Kadel is a commerce graduate from the University of Rajasthan with further qualifications from the London Business School, the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, ICFAI University and IIM Ahmedabad.

China: The China Cement Association has elected Zhou Yuxian as its president following a meeting of its representatives.

Zhou has been the chair of China National Building Materials Group (CNBM) since 2021. Earlier in his career he worked for China Reform Holdings, Sinoma, China National Materials Science and Industry Group, China Non-Metal Research Institute of Synthetic Crystals and the Synthetic Crystals Research Institute. He has held leadership positions at several trade associations, including the China Association of Construction Enterprise Management, and is also a visiting practicing professor at the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Central South Mining and Metallurgy College and a master’s degree of engineering from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Wuhan University of Technology.