People

Argentina: Holcim Argentina has appointed Julio Asnal as its Director of Sales and Integral Solutions. He will lead the company’s sales strategy.

Asnal’s prior professional experience includes working as a regional director for Danone and as a commercial director for Coca-Cola FEMSA, where he also held marketing and strategic planning roles. Most recently he has worked in management positions for Promedon over the last decade. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the National University of Córdoba and a master's degree in Business Administration from IAE in Buenos Aires.

Germany: Beumer Group has appointed Rudolf Hausladen as its chief executive officer (CEO). He succeeds Christoph Beumer, who has been in post since 2000. Beumer will remain a member of the management board until the end of 2022 and then move to the advisory board.

Hausladen, aged 52 years, holds a university degree in mechanical engineering as well as a master’s in business administration (MBA). Previously he worked in management positions for logistics companies including Swisslog and Gebhardt Logistic Solutions. His most recent position outside of Beumer was as the group CEO of electronic company ERNI.

India: Ramco Cements has appointed MF Farooqui as its chair. Previously PR Venketrama Raj had served as both the company’s managing director and chair. However, the company has decided to split the positions. Venketrama Raj will continue as managing director until mid-2027.

Farooqui, aged 67 years, has worked for over 35 years as a civil servant in the Indian government with roles including Secretary for the Department of Telecom and Heavy Industries, Special Secretary & Additional Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Joint Secretary for the Department of Economic Affairs.

For the government of Tamil Nadu, he has worked as Principal Secretary for the Industries Department, Member Secretary for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Deputy Secretary in the Finance Department. He had also served as chair of Repco Bank, Titan Company and Tamilnadu Newsprint & Papers Limited. He holds a master’s degree in physics and business administration. He has been on the board of the Ramco Cements as an independent director since 2017.

China: Wang Cheng has resigned as the chair and as an executive director of Anhui Conch Cement due to his “pursuit of other work commitments.” The company’s vice chair Wang Jianchao will work as acting chair until a successor is found. Wang Cheng took up the post in 2021 when the previous chair Gao Dengbang resigned. He joined Conch Holdings in 2021 after a career in government.

Canada: Progressive Planet Solutions has appointed Ian Grant as its chief operating officer. He has been promoted from Vice President of Business Development. In his new role Grant will work with chief executive officer Steve Harpur to oversee operations and development of its micronised mineral technologies in addition to supporting the growth of the company's current business.

In May 2022 Progressive Planet completed the acquisition and integration of Absorbent Products and the expansion of its regenerative fertiliser operations. It also changed the name of its new subsidiary to Progressive Planet Products. As part of his work on the company's plan, Grant will be managing the shutdown of the seasonal regenerative fertiliser pilot plant in Spallumcheen by moving key equipment to expand the full commercial plant in Kamloops. Grant will be based at the company’s new joint head office for Progressive Planet Solutions and Progressive Planet Products in Kamloops.

Progressive Planet sells products with sustainable benefits to the agricultural, construction and industrial sectors including micronised minerals such as a proprietary supplementary cementing material made from recycled glass.