Novelis Adds to its Management Staff

The aluminum producer Novelis Inc. has announced a number of senior management appointments to help the company accelerate its global integration strategy and strengthen its leadership as a provider of aluminum solutions.  

Effective April 1, 2011, the new appointments include the creation of global roles in the areas of manufacturing excellence and recycling, as well as global product line management positions.

The company has named Tom Walpole senior vice president, global manufacturing excellence, as well as president, Novelis Asia. Currently senior vice president and president of Novelis Asia, Walpole assumes additional responsibilities to increase the speed at which the company integrates its global manufacturing operations through common standards, policies and practices. He will also oversee execution of the company's overall improvement goals for its manufacturing assets over the next three to five years. In addition, he will be responsible for helping the company achieve employee health and safety performance and for implementing global standards for all new major capital investments.

Erwin Mayr has been named senior vice president, chief strategy and commercial officer. Mayr currently is senior vice president and chief strategy officer. In his expanded position, he will continue to improve the position of the company for profitable growth by increasing the global integration of Novelis' commercial activities and strategy development. He will lead a global research and development team and global product management team that aim to grow Novelis’ premium product portfolio with a focus on aluminum sheet and foil for high-value markets such as beverage cans, automotive applications and consumer electronics.

Andrew King has been named vice president, global can. He will report to Mayr. King is currently vice president of can products for Novelis North America. Novelis also appointed Roland Harings vice president, global automotive. He will continue his regional responsibilities as general manager of automotive and specialties for Novelis Europe.

The appointments for King and Harings are both newly created positions.

Derek Prichett has been named vice president, global recycling. He will report to Nick Madden, vice president and chief procurement officer. In this newly created role, Prichett will focus on accelerating Novelis' global recycling efforts to reach its sustainability goals as well as an increasing focus on recycling as a metal input source. Prichett is currently vice president and general manager of specialty products for Novelis North America.