Rwanda: new CEO of Cimerwa and PPC Gauteng business unit executive

Former General Manager of PPC Cement’s Hercules and Jupiter operations in Gauteng, Bheki Mthembu, has been appointed the CEO of Cimerwa in Rwanda.

Mthembu assumed his new duties as CEO from 1 December 2016 under the guidance of Njombo Lekula, Managing Director of PPC International Operations.

With optimisation of Cimerwa currently in progress, Mthembu is looking forward to this new challenge and the year ahead. "While PPC’s well-established presence in Botswana and Zimbabwe had already positioned us as an African brand, Cimerwa spearheaded the next phase of our expansion onto the continent - demonstrating our vision and commitment to building Africa. Given that the plant is already running at capacity utilisation levels above 50 per cent and sold over 148,000t of cement in the latest reporting period, it's a very exciting time to be joining the team."

Meanwhile, Kevin Odendaal will be replacing Mthembu locally as PPC Executive: Gauteng Business Unit, building on his work to date. "This is in line with the group’s vision and strategy to become a materials solution provider both in South Africa and across the continent," said PPC in a statement.

Mthembu and Odendaal both see their new appointments as opportunities to continue to build the brand and the group’s operations. "As PPC moves into its next exciting phase of commissioning on the continent, we look forward to growing and strengthening our stakeholder partnerships through ongoing rollout of the Group’s strategy."