Nigeria: Dangote Cement has appointed former Xstrata CEO Mick Davis as a non-executive director alongside Cherie Blair, a lawyer and the wife of ex-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The new board appointments are targeted at strengthening the company’s board, according to Bloomberg. While the company did not explain the reason for such high-level appointments, it has been reported that the company is planning to relaunch its bid to be listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). According to Bloomberg, Dangote has already approached investment bankers to discuss a potential UK listing.

Davis ran Xstrata, the mining giant now owned by Glencore, for 12 years to 2013. He is now the chairman of Macsteel and the CEO of the UK’s ruling Conservative party. Cherie Blair’s other board positions include Renault SA.

UAE: Ashley Bryan has been appointed as the general manager of Pioneer Cement. He will report to Joey Ghose, the chief executive officer of the parent company Raysut Cement. Bryan, aged 49 years, started working the cement industry in 1988. He has held various engineering and operational roles in the UK, Nigeria and South East Asia.

US: Dan Harrington has been appointed as the head of Cementir Holding for its North America region. He will lead Cementir's newly formed Region North America, which comprised of the North American cement production and distribution operations of Lehigh White Cement and the group's existing US concrete products company, Vianini Pipe.

Harrington was previously the president and chief executive officer of Lehigh Hanson North America and he has served as the chairman of the Portland Cement Association (PCA). He holds a science degree from Pennsylvania State University, an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MA and PhD in executive management from Claremont Graduate University.

India: Burnpur Cement has appointed Pawan Pareek as its chief financial officer. Pareek holds 30 years experience in accounts, finance and commerce for the steel and cement industries.

The cement producer has also appointed Uma Agarwal as a non-executive independent director. Agarwal holds qualifications as a company secretary and has practiced company law for the last three years.