Australia: James Hardie has sacked its chief executive officer (CEO) Jack Truong following a course of behaviour in his interactions with 30 – 50 employees which ‘extensively and materially’ breached the company’s code of conduct. After executive chair Mike Hammes cautioned him to change his ways, Truong continued to behave in a manner not consistent with the code over a period of ‘several months.’ The company said that it hired a consultancy and external counsel to confront the issues arising from employees’ complaints, however “Sincere change did not occur.” It added that there were no allegations of Truong having committed discrimination.

Bloomberg News has reported that the former CEO said “I was blindsided by the termination and unequivocally reject the assertions.”

Truong took over as CEO in February 2019. 3M CEO Harold Wiens replaces him.

Bangladesh: UAE-based Ras Al Khaimah Cement is considering the acquisition of Chimera Investments’ and IHC Holding Company’s stakes in manufacturing and export holding company Apex Holding. Reuters news has reported that the board of Ras Al Khaimah Cement has yet to approve any agreement.

Senegal: SOCOCIM Industries, a subsidiary of France-based Vicat, has signed a contract with France-based Fives Group for an upgrade to its Rufisque cement plant in Dakar. Under the contract, Fives Group will supply a new 6500t/day kiln line for the 3.5Mt/yr plant. The supplier said that the line will be optimised for alternative fuel (AF) substitution. It said that the companies share mutual trust, 200 years of history and a commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry.

Mexico: Cemex’s total dispatches of its Vertua reduced-CO₂ concrete in Mexico reached 284,000t in 2021. After launching the product in its home country on 8 December 2020, the company supplied it to 3820 sites throughout 2021. Cemex says that it enters 2022 with 1580 orders outstanding.