The World Cement Association (WCA) has appointed Philippe Richart as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Richart succeeds Ian Riley, who had joined the WCA in 2019 and has played a central role in strengthening the WCAs position as a credible, independent voice for the global cement industry over the last five years, said a WCA statement. Richart will lead the association as it continues to strengthen its global role at a time of profound change for the cement industry.
Richart has more than three decades of international leadership experience in the cement industry, with a career shaped by extensive work across Asia, Africa and Europe. Beginning his career as a construction engineer, he moved into the cement sector in the mid-1990s and went on to hold senior roles within Lafarge, later Holcim, spanning project development, operations, market entry and regional executive management. His experience covers both high-growth and highly volatile markets, giving him a practical understanding of how cement businesses operate under very different economic, regulatory and competitive conditions.
Over the course of his career, Richart has led businesses through expansion and transformation. He has managed cement and concrete operations at country and regional level, overseen acquisitions and joint ventures, and worked closely with governments, financial institutions and local partners. This breadth of responsibility has reinforced a leadership approach grounded in operational discipline, performance improvement and long-term value creation, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, people and sustainability.
“I wish to extend my welcome to Philippe Richart as the new CEO of WCA, and I am looking forward to working together with him towards the growth of WCA and continuing to provide services to the global cement industry,” expresses Rong Yakun, Secretary General of WCA.
“I believe that the cement industry is rapidly changing to respond to some great challenges such as, carbon emission reductions, global overcapacity and rising energy costs. In this context of change, WCA is an important platform for promotion of best approaches and practices, collaboration, and enabling members to share expertise and latest technology while, representing and advancing the interests of the global cement industry,” states Philippe Richart, WCA CEO.
Richart intends to enhance membership engagement, ensuring the association continues to reflect the full diversity of the cement sector worldwide. He highlights sustainability/decarbonisation, innovation, digitalisation and the application of latest technologies as central to the future of the cement industry. - TradeArabia News Service
