SOUTH African cement maker, PPC Limited (PPC) has reorganised and strengthened its executive committee (Exco) to drive productivity and a sustainable capital return for its South African business.
PPC, the parent company of PPC Zimbabwe, operates 11 cement factories across southern Africa, including locally.In a statement last week, PPC said the new Exco included several new roles aimed at enhancing operational excellence and strategic planning for the business.
“Following the appointment of its new CEO (chief executive officer), Matias Cardarelli, with effect from December 1, 2023, the board of directors of PPC (board) has approved a substantially reorganised and strengthened executive committee (Exco) in order to drive improved profitability and a sustainable return on capital for its South African business,” PPC said.
“The new Exco includes several new roles aimed at enhancing operational excellence and strategic planning. This includes the appointment of a chief operations officer (COO) to focus on increasing efficiencies, productivity and cost reduction initiatives; a chief strategy officer (CSO) who will work closely with the chief financial officer (CFO), Brenda Berlin, to implement various profit improvement initiatives, and a chief revenue officer (CRO).”
According to the cement maker, the CRO role will be assumed by Mokate Ramafoko, who will be responsible for creating a single revenue engine and boosting the company's topline.
Ndima Rawana will continue in his role as chief human resources officer (CHRO) to oversee the building of a high performance team, and Kevin Ross will join the Exco as chief legal and compliance officer and company secretary.
“Consequently, PPC is pleased to announce the recruitment of two new executives, Ernesto Acosta and Paulo Marques, who bring extensive global and South African cement industry experience,” PPC said.
“Ernesto Acosta, who will be taking on the role of COO, has spent 25 years with global cement company, Intercement, running different cement plants and operations in many regions and countries, most recently as its COO in South Africa.”
PPC said Paulo Marques would serve as CSO, having spent almost 20 years in various planning, control, strategy and finance positions in two international cement companies, Cimpor and Intercement, most recently as CFO in South Africa.
Following these changes and appointments, Cardarelli said the period was a transformational one for PPC.“Building the new Exco team is the first step in establishing the right organisational structure. At an Exco level, I believe we now have the right blend of global and local cement industry experience, institutional knowledge and energy, to drive PPC’s growth, improve profitability and enhance returns,” he said.
“Accountability, ownership, agility and focus on results, are going to be the distinctive characteristics of the new team.”As a result of the restructuring, the PPC Exco comprises Cardarelli (CEO), Berlin (CFO), Acosta (COO), Marques (CSO), Ramafoko (CRO), Rawana (CHRO) and Ross (chief legal officer and company secretary).
There were no new appointments to the board because of these changes.
