CEMEX promotes cement experts

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• 22nd November 2008
• Quarrying
 

23 October 2008: Global building solutions company CEMEX has promoted current director at Rugby cement plant, Carlos Uruchurtu, to vice president for cement operations in the UK, while current operations manager at Rugby, Luis Galan, has been appointed new plant director with immediate effect.

Since his appointment to Rugby plant in 2005, Mr Uruchurtu has been credited with a turnaround in the plant's performance, resulting in a 33% improvement in kiln efficiency, which in the industry qualifies as ‘world class'. Last year, the plant also announced record cement clinker productivity, and celebrated a whole year without any lost time injuries. Under his leadership, two alternative fuel trials have been conducted and the number of environmental incidents has been significantly reduced. Mr Uruchurtu was also responsible for instigating an open door policy at the plant, with regular visits by community groups, schools and members of the public.

In his new role, Mr Uruchurtu will continue to be based in Rugby, where he lives with his wife and young son, and will be responsible for operations and improvements at CEMEX's three cement plants in the UK. He will be a member of the UK management team and report to Country President, Gonzalo Galindo. As part of his role, he will also be responsible for cement technology in the Northern Europe region. Mr Uruchurtu 41, who is a qualified chemical engineer with a Master in Business Administration, comes from Mexico and first joined CEMEX in 1991.

New plant director Luis Galan, 36, has been operations manager at Rugby plant since 2006 and will be reporting to Mr Uruchurtu. Originally from Panama, he is a chemical engineer with a Master in Business Administration, and comes to the role with a wealth of experience in energy, alternative fuels use, environmental management and community engagement from other CEMEX plants around the world. About his new role, he says: "I am delighted about this opportunity to head up the Rugby plant. It is a key goal for me to build on the progress that has already been made, and improve on it further so that this cement plant becomes the safest, most sustainable and efficient cement plant in Europe. With a first class team at the plant, I am confident that these are realistic and achievable goals."

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