Ash Grove Cement Company announced that Stuart E. Tomlinson is joining the company as its vice president of Manufacturing for the Midwest region and will be based in the company’s head office in Overland Park, Kansas, USA.

Mr Tomlinson will join Ash Grove on 15 August. The current vice president of manufacturing – Midwest region, Edwin Pierce, retires effective 31 December.

“Stu is a cement industry veteran, and he possesses more than three decades of experience. He is an industry leader and will be an important part of the Ash Grove leadership team,” said Ash Grove Cement Company Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Michael J Hrizuk.

Prior to joining Ash Grove, Tomlinson was president Heidelberg Technology Center and senior vice president – manufacturing/engineering with Lehigh Hanson in Allentown, Penn., and previously he served as president – Mountain Cement Company with Eagle Materials in Laramie, Wyo., and vice president, manufacturing for Cemex/Southdown in Charlevoix, Mich., and Houston. In those companies, he directed cement operations, project engineering, technical services, terminal management, sales markets and logistics.

In his new role, Tomlinson will direct Ash Grove’s cement operations in the Midwest region, which includes four cement manufacturing plants in Chanute, Kan., Foreman, Ark., Louisville, Neb., and Midlothian, Texas. He will be an officer of the company, according to Hrizuk.

“Working for the largest privately held, American owned company with its progressive approach to adapting new technology and strong compliance record offers me a great professional opportunity, and I am looking forward to joining the team and launching the modernized plant in Midlothian,” said Tomlinson.