Holcim announce new CEO

Bernard Fontana to succeed Markus Akermann as chief executive officer of Holcim Ltd on 1 February 2012

HOLCIM have announced that French national Bernard Fontana (pictured), presently chief executive officer of Aperam, a company recently spun off from ArcelorMittal, is to assume the position of chief executive officer of Holcim Ltd with effect from 1 February 2012. He will replace current incumbent Markus Akermann, who will be stepping down at the end of January 2012.

Mr Fontana’s career began with Groupe SNPE in France, where he was appointed head of US operations. Shortly after joining ArcelorMittal in 2004, he was given responsibility for human resources, information technology and business development at Flat Carbon.

From 2006 to 2007 he was a member of the management committee of ArcelorMittal with responsibility for the Automotive Worldwide business unit. In his capacity as group management committee member, he was subsequently responsible for human resources and the global alliance with Nippon Steel.

Since 2010 Mr Fontana has been chief executive officer of Aperam, a Luxembourg-domiciled listed corporate group that was spun off from ArcelorMittal in late 2010. This newly formed corporation produces high-grade steel in Europe and overseas, generates sales of approximately US$6.5 billion and has a workforce of around 10,000 employees.

Commenting on Mr Fontana’s appointment, Rolf Soiron, chairman of the board of directors of Holcim Ltd, said: ‘We have succeeded in finding a successor with a winning personality who has a true track record in corporate leadership as well as in central group functions such as human resources and sustainable development.’

Markus Akermann, who has been chief executive officer and member of the board of directors of Holcim Ltd since 2002, will retain his seat on the board until his current term of office ends in 2013.