LafargeHolcim's (LH's) Board of Directors has set up a more market-focused and agile approach to its management. The profit & loss responsibility of the countries will be strengthened with a greater emphasis on developing and executing market strategies. The 30 largest country organizations will directly report to the Executive Committee, now reduced to 9 members, and the global business will be merged under one leadership from 1 January 2018.
Region North America
René Thibault is appointed Head Region North America and Member of the Executive Committee. René succeeds Pascal Casanova who has decided to pursue opportunities outside of the Group.
He joined LH in 1989 and has held various roles in France and Canada. He has been the CEO of Western Canada since 2012 with a track record in commercial roles and has expertise in downstream offerings for the (LH) customers.
Region Europe
Marcel Cobuz is appointed as Head Region Europe and Member of the Executive Committee. Marcel succeeds Roland Köhler, who has decided to retire.
Cobuz joined LH in 2000 and has held various operational roles in 6 different countries and has been Country CEO in Indonesia, Iraq and currently Morocco. He has extensive experience in different markets and a successful P&L track record.
Roland Köhler will retire at the beginning of 2018. He has had a successful career within LH spanning more than 30 years and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2010, most recently as the head of Europe, Trading and Oceania. Roland will continue to support the company as Chairman of its Foundation for Sustainable Construction. Additionally, Köhler will also continue to represent the Group as a non-executive director in local subsidiaries of LH.
Simplifying the Operating Model
The two global business functions – Performance & Cost and Growth & Innovation – will be merged into a new corporate department, Growth & Performance, under one leadership. It has been set up to help enable LH to simplify the interfaces with the countries and to operate a more agile global platform for Best Demonstrated Practice.
Urs Bleisch, currently head of performance & cost and Member of the Executive Committee, is appointed Head of Growth & Performance. Gérard Kuperfarb, Head of Growth & Innovation, has decided to pursue a career outside the Group.
Alignment of Regions
The Regions will be fully aligned reflecting geographic and business similarities. Region Latin America will be complemented by Mexico, which was previously part of Region North America. Australia and New Zealand, previously part of Region Europe, will join Region Asia. China and Trading will report directly to the CEO.
Géraldine Picaud will join the group and take over responsibilities as the new CFO in January 2018.
Jan Jenisch, CEO, “I am delighted to welcome Géraldine, Marcel and René to the Executive Committee . Establishing a market-focused management organization is an important step towards generating an attractive growth profile and taking the company to its next level of performance. The strengthening of the profit and loss responsibility of the countries and the simplification of global business functions will create a leaner and more agile operating model. Countries will be fully empowered and accountable for market strategies, cost discipline and results. The new organization will be complemented by a strengthened performance management system focusing on growth, cash conversion, capital efficiency and people development.”
