News (October 01, 2000)

The Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) has appointed W. Warren Holmes as the new chair of its executive board. Holmes, who is the senior vice-president, Canadian mining operations, Falconbridge Ltd., succeeds Peter H. Cooke, executive vice-president, cement operations, Lafarge Corp. As CIPEC executive board chair, Holmes will be at the forefront of the Canadian manufacturing and mining sectors’ energy-efficiency response to Canada’s national action program on climate change.

Holmes has 35 years of experience in the mining industry, working first with Noranda Mines Ltd. and, since 1986, with Falconbridge Ltd. He is on the board of the Ontario Mining Association and the Mining Association of Canada, and has received a number of industry awards.

Douglas Fogwill, P.Geol., has been appointed president, COO and a director of Iriana Resources Corp., following the resignation of Neil Westol as CEO, president and director. Timothy Yap, in addition to being vice-chairman and director, will assume the position of interim CEO. The new management team has begun to vigorously examine strategic planning, and to search out new opportunities for the company. Fogwill has over 40 years of experience in mineral exploration and development across Canada with a number of companies and with the Newfoundland and Manitoba governments. Iriana Resources is a TSE-listed mineral exploration and development company with significant exploration interests in Indonesia.

Michel Bouchard has been appointed vice-president , mining development for McWatters Mining Inc. Bouchard was vice-president, development, at SOQUEM Inc. before joining McWatters. He holds a master’s degree in geology, and has been involved in the development of several mining projects in Quebec over the past 25 years.

Kevin Weston has joined McWatters as project manager, responsible for the development of the Sigma-Lamaque open pit operations. Donald Brisebois, formerly executive vice-president and COO, has left the company, which does not expect to immediately fill these positions.

Alcan Aluminium Ltd. has announced its proposed post-merger organization and management team, to take effect following the completion of the share exchange offer, between Alcan and Alusuisse Group Ltd., expected mid-October.

Jacques Bougie will continue as president and CEO. Emery LeBlanc will remain group president, primary metal and executive vice-president of Alcan. Brian Sturgell will become group president, aluminum fabrication, Americas and Asia, and remain executive vice-president of Alcan. Richard Evans will become group president, aluminum fabrication, Europe, and remains executive vice-president of Alcan. Henk van de Meent will become group president, global packaging, and executive vice-president of Alcan. Suresh Thadhani will remain executive vice-president and CFO of Alcan. The new corporate office of Alcan will be located in Montreal.

Roger Jinks has been appointed president of AMEC’s Earth & Environmental operations. He has been with the AGRA organization since 1987, most recently serving as executive vice-president of the company’s western Canada, US west coast and international operations. He succeeds William Slusarchuk, who is retiring after 27 years with the company. AGRA Earth & Environmental is one of North America’s largest geotechnical, materials and environmental engineering firms, and is now marketing its services under the AMEC name brand, following AGRA Inc.’s merger with AMEC plc earlier this year.

GeoTec (Toronto) has announced that geophysicist W. R. (Bil) Thuma, formerly Director of Marketing, High-Sense Geophysics (Fugro Airborne Surveys) has been appointed to head new business expansion and project development initiatives including airborne and marine remote sensing. Markets include exploration and exploitation of natural resources, environmental site characterization and target location/identification.

Bucyrus International has elected Timothy W. Sullivan as president and COO and a member of the board of directors. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and strategic direction of the business. The company has also elected Thomas B. Phillips as executive vice-president, with responsibility for worldwide manufacturing, purchasing and inventory control.

Bucyrus International, which is entering its 120th year in business, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mining shovels, drills and draglines. Currently, its dragline product in Australia is the world’s largest operating dragline.

Leica Geosystems Inc. has appointed Jack Fahey to manage the machine guidance GPS business for North America. In this position, Fahey will manage a team responsible for providing consultation, training and technical support to machine guidance GPS customers. His product responsibilities will include the recently introduced Dozer 2000 GPS-driven machine guidance system used to automate mine earthmoving and reclamation. Fahey, formerly of Spectra Precision, has had considerable experience in the construction industry and with providing machine guidance solutions.