Ash Grove Cement has appointed J Randall Vance as CEO and President. Charles Sunderland, chairman and chief executive officer and part of the fourth generation of Sunderland family members to lead the majority family-owned business, will remain chairman of the board.

“Randy has demonstrated effective leadership for Ash Grove's largest business of portland cement and has embraced our unique, successful corporate culture,” said Mr Sunderland. “I look forward to Randy's leadership now extending to the entire family of Ash Grove companies.”

“I’m honoured to be entrusted with this responsibility. This year, Ash Grove celebrates 135 years in business. My goal is to continue our long-term focus on being the supplier of choice for quality cement and related construction materials,” said Mr Vance. “I am thankful for our team of talented, hard-working employees who make our organisation so successful and look forward to new opportunities for growth in the future."

Mr Vance joined Ash Grove in 2011 as chief financial officer and senior vice president of administration and was promoted to president and chief operating officer in 2014. Before joining Ash Grove, he worked in a variety of roles at Hostess Brands, Interstate Bakeries, Farmland Industries and Commerce Bank.