People

Russia: LafargeHolcim Russia has appointed Andrey Polezhaev as the director of its integrated Schurovsky plant in Kolomna, Kaluga Oblast. He previously worked at the plant, from 2015 to 2017, as head of the repair service and has worked for the group since 1998.

The Schurovsky plant celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020. Located close to Moscow, it has supplied cement for many well known infrastructure projects in the region including the reconstruction of the Luzhniki Stadium, which hosted the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the construction of runways at Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo airports, the modernisation of the Kaluzhskoe highway and the creation of the Central Ring Road. It is also the only plant in Russia that produces white cement.

US: Solidia Technologies has appointed Bryan Kalbfleisch appointed as its chief executive officer.

Kalbfleisch holds two decades of experience leading manufacturing operations producing concrete, asphalt, and other building materials. He previously worked at Summit Materials, an aggregates-based construction materials company, where he served as president of both its Texas Region and Houston-based Alleyton Resource. He also previously served as president of Fayetteville, APAC Central for Oldcastle (CRH), North America's largest manufacturer of building products and materials. His career was launched in the ready-mix concrete division of Central Pre-Mix Concrete Company, which was sold to Oldcastle in 1997.

China: Gao Dengbang has resigned as the chairman and an executive director of Anhui Conch. The company has proposed appointing Wang Cheng as an executive director subject to shareholder approval at the next annual general meeting.

Wang, aged 55 years, holds a postgraduate degree in economic management from the Central Party School. In March 2021 he joined Conch Holdings. He is currently the party secretary and chairman of Conch Holdings.

He started his career in 1983. Since 2003, he has held key senior positions in a number of provincial cities including deputy mayor and a member of the standing committee of the municipal committee of Huainan city, deputy secretary of the municipal committee and mayor of the municipal government of Bengbu city. Wang is currently a representative of the 13th National People’s Congress.

Turkey: Fatih Yücelik has been elected as the 24th chairman of the board of Türkçimento, the Turkish Cement Manufacturers’ Association. He succeeds Tamer Saka in the role.

Yücelik has worked as a senior executive in the construction sector. He currently works as the vice chairman of the board of directors and chairman of the executive board of Erçimsan Holding. He holds a number of positions with non-governmental organisations, including that of Eastern Anatolian Honorary Consul to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, deputy chairman of the board of directors of Cement Industry Employers' Union (ÇEİS) and as a board member of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK).

Germany: Schenck Process Group has appointed Ulrich Spiesshofer as the chairman of its advisory board with effect from 1 May 2021.

Spiesshofer recently served as chief executive of the group from 2013 to 2019 and has been a member of the executive committee of ABB since 2005. He currently serves on the board of directors of Infineon, Munich, serves as senior advisor to Blackstone and is assuming the chairman role at Sabre Industries, based in Texas, US. Prior to ABB, Spiesshofer was Senior Partner and Global Head of Operations for Roland Berger and served AT Kearney in Europe, Australia, Asia and the US for 11 years most recently as partner and managing director of their Swiss operations. He holds a PhD in Economics and a master’s degree in Business Administration and Engineering from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.