South Africa: AfriSam is preparing to replace its chief executive officer (CEO) to aid its merger discussions with PPC. Rob Wessels, a former chief investment officer at AfriSam’s black empowerment partner Phembani Group, is set to replace current Stephan Olivier on a short-term contract, according to sources quoted by Boomberg. The personnel manoeuvring would also potentially place PPC’s current CEO Darryll Castle in a strong position to become the merged company’s new leader. PPC and AfriSam announced that they had resumed merger talks in February 2017 after a previous attempt stalled in 2015.

China: China Pioneer Cement, the sole shareholder of Shandong Shanshui Cement, has removed Li Maohuan, Yu Yuchuan, Zhao Liping and Chen Zhongsheng as directors of Shandong Shanshui. In their place Liu Yiu Keung, Stephen, Yen Ching Wai, Chong Cha Hwa and Liu Dequan have been appointed as directors.

Sri Lanka: Nandana Ekanayake has been appointed as the chief executive officer of Siam City Cement Lanka. Previously Ekanayake was the Finance Director at Holcim Vietnam and was the Vice President of Holcim Lanka, according to the Daily News newspaper. Thailand’s Siam City Cement purchased Holcim Lanka in mid-2016.

Turkey: Mehmet Göçmen has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Sabancı Holding, the owner of several Turkish cement companies including Çimsa and Akçansa. He replaces Zafer Kurtul, who will vacate his position from 30 March 2017. Göçmen currently serves as Sabancı Holding Energy Group Head.

Göçmen graduated from the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Middle East Technical University in 1981. He also holds an MS degree from the Department of Industrial Engineering at Syracuse University in the US. He worked in executive positions between 1983 and 1995 at Steel Wire & Rope Industry, at Lafarge between 1996 and 2003 and he was appointed as General Manager of Akçansa in 2003. He has served as Human Resources Group Head, Cement Group Head and Energy Group Head at Sabancı Holding since 2008.