UK: Gauthier Autrand has been appointed as the new Plant Manager of Holcim UK’s Cauldon cement plant in Staffordshire, England. He has more than 20 years of construction experience in the UK and around the world, having managed significant facilities in France, Belgium and Kazakhstan. Throughout his career, he has spent much time developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)-related partnerships with politicians in various countries to bring the education system in line with the specific needs of the construction industry, and to help address the sector’s growing skills gap.

Holcim UK’s Cauldon cement plant is central to Holcim UK’s involvement in the Peak Cluster initiative, one of the UK’s ‘most ambitious’ CCUS projects. Set to launch in 2031, Peak Cluster aims to capture CO₂ from cement and lime production in Staffordshire and neighbouring Cheshire and Derbyshire, safely storing it under the Irish Sea.

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."

Canada: Concrete carbon capture technology producer CarbonCure Technologies has appointed Kristal Kaye as Interim CEO. Kaye previously served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and, in that capacity, has already been deeply engaged with CarbonCure’s team, strategy and day-to-day operations. Her appointment comes as CarbonCure’s founder, Robert Niven, steps away from the CEO role. Niven will remain a strong supporter of CarbonCure, continuing to serve on the company’s Board of Directors.

Under Niven’s leadership, CarbonCure developed and commercialised the most widely-deployed carbon utilisation solution for lower-carbon concrete manufacturing. Over the past decade, CarbonCure has licensed hundreds of its CO2 injection systems to concrete producers across more than 20 countries, permanently mineralising and reducing nearly 0.6Mt of CO₂.

“Everyone at CarbonCure feels deep gratitude to Rob for his pioneering carbon utilisation innovation for lower carbon concrete and his tireless dedication to CarbonCure over the past 13 years, with many years of research and development before that,” said Kaye. “Stepping into this interim role, I am eager to carry Rob’s legacy forward, and our entire team remains committed to that mission, our core values and the success of our concrete producer partners around the world.”

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.