JSE-listed cement and construction materials company PPC has approved a substantially reorganised and strengthened executive committee to drive improved profitability and a sustainable return on capital for its South African business.
The reconstituted committee includes several new roles aimed at enhancing operational excellence and strategic planning, including the appointment of a COO to focus on increasing efficiencies, productivity and cost reduction initiatives, a chief revenue officer (CRO), and a chief strategy officer (CSO), who will work closely with PPC CFO Brenda Berlin to implement various profit improvement initiatives.
The CRO role will be assumed by Mokate Ramafoko, who will be responsible for creating a single revenue engine and boosting the company's top line. Ndima Rawana will continue as chief human resources officer to oversee the building of a high-performing team, and Kevin Ross will join as chief legal and compliance officer and company secretary.
Additionally, PPC announced the recruitment of two new executives, namely Ernesto Acosta and Paulo Marques, who bring extensive global and South African cement industry experience.
Acosta, who 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, will be taking on the role of COO at PPC.
Marques will serve as CSO, after 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.
"This is a transformational time for us at PPC. Building the new executive team is the first step in establishing the right organisational structure. At an executive committee 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," PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli says.
"Accountability, ownership, agility and focus on results are going to be the distinctive characteristics of the new team," he adds.
There are no new appointments to the PPC board as a consequence of these changes.