PPC appoints CEO with extensive global cement experience - 26 June 2019

PPC APPOINTS CEO WITH EXTENSIVE GLOBAL CEMENT EXPERIENCE
JOHANNESBURG, June 26, 2019 – Following a global search, the Board of Directors of PPC Ltd,
South Africa's largest cement maker, announced the appointment of Roland van Wijnen as Chief
Executive Officer (CEO).
The search for a new CEO to succeed Johan Claassen began last November when he announced he
was taking early retirement from his position of CEO of PPC.
“Considering the specialised nature of the industry, and its challenges, as soon as Johan decided to
retire, the board began a process to identify a high calibre candidate, with extensive experience in
leading cement companies in cyclical downturns and challenging markets,” said PPC Chairperson,
Jabu Moleketi.
“We are pleased to have secured Roland, a Dutch national, whose listed company experience and
exposure to international global best practice will broaden the management practices of PPC. He is
an ideal appointment as he has detailed knowledge of the cement sector. He is up-to-speed with our
global strategic imperatives and will advance the process without any delays,” he said.
VAN WIJNEN EXPERIENCE
“He has been with Holcim, now LafargeHolcim, for 17 years during which time he held various senior
leadership roles across the group. As CEO of the Philippine business, a public company, much the
same size as PPC, he successfully dealt with similar challenges that PPC is facing. During his time
Holcim Philippines successfully implemented a new retail business model and a growth strategy to
best serve customers and increase profitability.
“An Industrial Engineering graduate from Twente University, in the Netherlands, van Wijnen was CEO
of certain of Holcim’s Eastern European businesses between 2005 and 2010 and also acted as CEO
of Holcim’s global trading business before the Lafarge Holcim merger,” said Moleketi.
“Having done some work for Holcim in South Africa before the company moved its operations out of
the region, he is familiar with the country,” he said.
Moleketi said van Wijnen has signed a four-year contract and was expected to take over from
Claassen as soon as he has received a work permit. He will be tasked with building and developing
the executive team and jointly accelerating the process of turning PPC into a high-performance
organization that offers superior products and solutions to customers throughout its leading positions
across Africa.
Van Wijnen said: "I am excited and honoured to have been appointed into this executive role at such
iconic company that PPC is. PPC is currently undergoing strategic projects to ensure the long-term
sustainability and viability of the Group, and I have been working on such initiatives for the past
decade. I am looking forward to starting my new role as CEO which will enable me to focus on the
value and growth strategy of the Group. Our future will be defined by how well we deliver on our
strategy of driving sustainable growth and maximising opportunities in order to realise the ambitions of
our company and take us to the next level of success.”
SUCCESSION PLANNING
Moleketi said the PPC board recognises that the foundation for succession planning is effective
governance, based on defined core values and application principles that guide both governing and
operating decisions and actions.
“To this end, the board has conducted a detailed evaluation of the executive bench, individual and
collective skills of the leadership body and developed succession plans to align the leadership with
the strategic needs of the firm going forward,” he said.
“During the next four years, the Board will work with Roland to fast-track and implement the
company’s succession policy and strategy.
“We thank Johan for his commitment, hard work, and loyalty to PPC, its shareholders, employees and
customers. He has accomplished what he was set up to do - to renew the operational focus of the
company and position the group for a period of consolidation,” said Moleketi.
ENDS