By Dipo Olowookere
**As Makoju Quits
The management of Dangote Cement Plc has announced the appointment of a new Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer for the company.
A statement issued by the cement giant said from Saturday, February 1, 2020, Mr Michel Puchercos will resume office as the new GMD/CEO. This followed the retirement of the present occupier of the position, Mr Joseph Makoju, with effect from Friday, January 31, 2019.
“This is to announce the retirement of Engr Joseph Makoju from the board of directors and as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement Plc effective January 31, 2020.
“The board has approved the appointment of Mr Michel Puchercos as his replacement on the board of directors, as the Group, effective from February 1, 2020,” the notice disclosed.
According to the statement, Mr Puchercos has more than 20 years’ experience in the cement industry, having served in various capacities at Lafarge, including as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Halla Cement, Director of Strategy and Systems at Lafarge Gypsum through Chief Executive Officer of Bamburi Cement, Kenya, Hima Cement, Uganda and Chairman, Mbeya Cement, Tanzania.
“His last appointment was as the Group Managing Director and Country CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, a company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),” Dangote Cement said in the statement.
His appointment will be included in the agenda at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) for ratification by the shareholders in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), it said further.
Business Post reports that Mr Mokoju was appointed to the board of Dangote Cement in 2010 as a non-executive director. In January 2018, he became the acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the firm.
He was once the MD/CEO of the West African Portland Cement Company (WAPCO), which later became Lafarge Africa. Mr Makoju was also once the MD/CEO of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA)/Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
