UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has appointed Lex Russell as its chair for a two-year period. He succeeds Simon Willis, the head of Hanson UK, who has been in post for three years.

Russell is the managing director of Cemex UK Materials. He has worked in the building materials industry for 40 years, initially starting in 1984 with Scotland-based quarrying and concrete product company Alexander Russell, holding a variety of operational and technical roles. In 1989 he joined RMC’s technical department before progressing through the organisation as Quarry Manager, Operations Manager, Business Manager and director.

In 2005 RMC was acquired by Cemex and two years later Russell moved to Australia to lead a team in the post-merger integration of Rinker, acquired by Cemex in 2007. He returned to the UK as Vice President before becoming managing director of the Cemex UK Materials business in 2018.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has appointed Puneet Dalmia as its managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO). He will succeed Mahendra Singhi in the role in December 2023. Singhi will remain working for the company as Director and Strategic Advisor to the MD and CEO to aid the transition process.

Puneet Dalmia has been the MD of Dalmia Cement (Bharat)’s parent company Dalmia Bharat since 2004. Prior to this co-founded JobsAhead.com in 1999, which was sold to Monster.com in 2004. Dalmia is also the chair of the Development Council for Cement Industry (DCCI), set up by the Government of India in June 2021. He holds a master of business administration (MBA) postgraduate degree from IIM-Bangalore and holds a bachelor of technology degree from IIT-Delhi.

Sri Lanka: Praveen Gnanam has been appointed to the Board of Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) as a Non-Independent Director. He joined Tokyo Cement in 2012 as Special Projects Coordinator and was promoted to Head of Innovation Department in 2015.

Gnanam holds over a decade of experience in the hardware and construction materials industry as well as in renewable energy. Prior to joining Tokyo Cement, he worked in consulting for Los Angeles-based firm Innovation Protocol, and as a Research Analyst and a Brand Associate for clients such as eBay, PayPal and Republic Waste Management.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) has appointed Thammasak Sethaudom as its president and chief executive officer. He will succeed Roongrote Rangsiyopash, following his resignation, from January 2024. Thammasak has also been appointed as the president of Cementhai Holding Company. Surachai Nimlaor the president of SCG’s cement division will also be appointed to president of the division from the start of 2024.

Thammasak has worked for SCG for over 30 years in a variety of financial and investment positions, primarily in the chemicals business. Prior to this, he was the general director of Long Son Petrochemicals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Chulalongkorn University, a master of business administration (MBA) postgraduate degree from the London Business School and has also attended Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.