Siam City Cement changes top staff

In its most drastic management revamp since Swiss cement maker Holcim Ltd took management control six years ago, Siam City Cement Plc is changing its chief executive and the heads of marketing, production and finance almost simultaneously.  The board of directors at Thailand’s second largest cement company approved yesterday the appointment of Leo Mittelholzer as new managing director, succeeding Vincent Bichet, who has held the position for three years, company spokesman Dr Staporn Phettongkam said.  Effective immediately, the board also approved Chantana Sukumanont as executive vice president (EVP) for marketing and Vanchai Tosomboon as EVP for production, a company source said.

The position of executive vice president is a new title for the firm, the source said, adding that Chantana and Vanchai had also been promoted to the board. Until yesterday, Chantana was senior vice president for marketing while Vanchai was managing director of the company’s subsidiary, Royal Porcelain, Staporn said.  Vanchai replaces Somboon Phuvoravan, 58, who took early retirement. Somboon’s resignation has nothing to do with the recent accident at the company’s complex in Saraburi where six workers were killed and several were injured, Staporn said.