Umicore shuffles executive committee

Brussels based mining and recycling firm Umicore has announced several changes to both its executive committee and its board of directors. The changes became effective, April 1, 2018.

The company’s activities are organized in three business groups: catalysts, energy and surface technologies and recycling.

Denis Goffaux, Umicore chief technology officer, will succeed Marc van Sande as executive vice president for energy and surface technologies. Van Sande is retiring from Umicore after 38 years with the company.

Stephan Csoma, a member of Umicore’s executive committee since 2012, will take on responsibility for the company’s entire recycling business group, including its precious metals refining division. Since joining the company in 1992, Csoma has acquired operational experience in China, South Africa and South America, as well as leading the former zinc chemicals business unit.

Umicore’s board of directors also has nominated Koenraad Debackere as its newest board member, replacing Rudi Thomaes, who has chosen not to seek re-election to the board. Debackere has been with the research university K.U. Leuven since 1995.

“I would like to thank Rudi Thomaes for his engagement and significant contribution to the board of directors and its committees since 2012,” says Thomas Leysen, Umicore chairman. “I will miss Rudi's insightful and measured opinions, and, on behalf of the board, I would like to wish him well. With the appointment of Koenraad Debackere, which is subject to shareholders’ approval on April 26, 2018, we will be adding significant expertise to the board in technology domains that are essential to the future success of the company.”

Continues Leysen, “In addition, the moves of Denis Goffaux and Stephan Csoma will leverage their competences while providing a welcome degree of continuity within the executive committee.

“Finally, I would like to thank Marc Van Sande for his outstanding contribution to the transformation of Umicore over the last two decades. I am delighted that, as senior advisor to the board, my colleagues and I will be able to continue to draw on his experience and expertise. I trust that with these changes, the board and Executive Committee will be able to build on a proven track record and continue to bring Umicore to the next level of development.”