By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The board of directors of Dangote Cement Plc has announced the stepping down of Mr Onne Van der Weijde as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the cement firm.
A statement issued on Thursday, October 19, 2017, and signed by the Deputy Company Secretary, Ityoyila Ukpi, confirmed this development.
In the statement, Dangote Cement Plc however said its chief executive would be leaving the position at the end of 2017.
Explaining the reason behind this, the firm stated that Mr Van der Weijde has spent three years leading the cement company and that he is also leaving for his home country, the Netherlands, from next year.
However, Dangote Cement said Mr Van der Weijde would remain as a non-Executive Director of the company.
“The board of Dangote Cement Plc hereby announce changes in the leadership of the company.
In the circumstance, Mr Onne Van der Weijde, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company will step down from the position at the end of 2017 having completed three years in this position, in order to return to his home country, the Netherlands. He will be appointed as a non-Executive Director of Dangote Cement Plc with effect from January 1, 2018.
“The board would like to thank Mr Onne Van der Weijde for his contribution during his period as CEO in the last three years, in which he managed an important growth phase in the company’s development,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Dangote Cement said on Thursday that, “Until a successor is appointed, Engr J.O. Makoju, Honorary Adviser to the Chairman nad former Managing Director of WAPCO/Lafarge, will be acting MD/CEO of Dangote Cement Plc.”