People

China: Wu Xu has been appointed as the chairman of Taiyuan Lionhead Cement. The 54-year old Chinese national is a graduate from the Chongqing Construction Workers College, he holds a master's degree in business administration from Chongqing University and he has attended the China Europe International Business School. From 1982 to 1991 Xu was the chief engineer of Chongqing Building Management Station and was the executive vice general manager of China Chongqing International for Economy & Technology Cooperation in the early 1990s. In 1994 he founded Sincere Group and has since been its chairman and president.

Ukraine: Vitaly Gorgoliuk has been appointed as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Eurocement Group Ukraine. He succeeds Denis Galchev. Eurocement Group Ukraine is a subsidiary of Russia’s Eurocement Group.

UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has appointed Claude Loréa as Cement Director. She will take up the role in early November 2018 and will be based at the association’s offices in London. Loréa joins the GCCA from European cement industry body, Cembureau where she is Deputy Chief Executive and Industrial Affairs Director. Loréa will report to incoming GCCA chief executive, Benjamin Sporton and will be a member of the executive team.

Loréa will lead all aspects of GCCA work related to cement, calling for a practical understanding of its chemistry, production, co-processing, data collection, standards as well as international climate policy, regulatory requirements and trends. With sustainability a key priority of the GCCA, she will also oversee the smooth transition of the activities of the Cement Sustainability Initiative to the GCCA.

Over her career Loréa has built up knowledge of the cement industry including the sector’s sustainability agenda where, among other achievements, she has led the development of the European Cement Industry Low Carbon Economy Roadmap. A Belgian national, she holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Brussels and has worked as an environmental consultant and auditor. She gained her first hands-on experience of the cement industry as an environmental engineer with Cimenteries CBR in Belgium, in time moving to Cembureau where she was appointed technical director and subsequently deputy chief executive.

India: ACC has appointed Ashish Prasad as its Chief Marketing Officer and Head of New Products & Services. Based in Mumbai, he will also be a member of the company's executive committee. Prasad will lead the brand building and marketing efforts for ACC's cement and concrete businesses. He will be responsible for growing the portfolio through the introduction of new products and solutions, as well as the design and implementation of new services to strengthen ACC's presence as a complete solution provider in the building materials space.

Prasad holds over 20 years of experience in brand management, sales, strategy and business development at companies including Pidilite Industries, Aditya Birla Group, Asian Paints and the Coca-Cola Company. In his last role as the chief operating officer (COO) of the construction chemicals business at Pidilite Industries, he was responsible for developing and growth of Dr Fixit and Roff brands.

He is a science graduate from Delhi University and holds a management degree from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.

US: Mississippi Lime Company has appointed Kenny Adams as the Plant Superintendent of the Vicksburg lime plant in Mississippi. He holds over 20 years of experience in plant production. He joined the company’s Verona plant in 2010 as a Lead Kiln Operator. In 2014, he was promoted to Supervisor. In his new role, he will oversee Vicksburg’s production and support operations.