Global Cement and Concrete Association appoints new president

Cemex chief executive Fernando A. González succeeds Jan Jenisch as president of the GCCA 

FERNANDO A. González, chief executive officer of Mexico-based Cemex, has been elected as the new president of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), whose members account for 80% of global cement production capacity outside of China and have committed to achieving Net Zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

Mr González, who is calling for the industry and governments around the world to establish a ‘robust regulatory framework’ that can further accelerate the cement and concrete sector’s decarbonization efforts, has been GCCA vice-president since 2018 and succeeds outgoing president Jan Jenisch, whose term of office now ends after two years.

Mr González recently spoke at the United Nations General Assembly’s Private Sector Forum and urged the public and private sectors to collaborate more closely to develop the regulatory ecosystem so that the cement industry can reach its full potential as a contributor to a carbon-neutral society. He is seeking to galvanize collective efforts to cut emissions, setting out the following priorities for industry and governments:

• Take decisive action to phase out fossil fuels and promote the use of alternative fuels by encouraging regulation to divert societal waste from landfill to cement kilns

• Enact policies to accelerate the extensive adoption of low-carbon construction products

• Establish market-driven carbon pricing mechanisms around the world to incentivise industry to decarbonize and further develop technology focused on reducing emissions

• Collaborate and provide funding to develop new technologies to decarbonize manufacturing processes and help speed-up the rollout of carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

‘It is a great honour to be president of the GCCA, particularly as we enter this ‘decade to deliver,’ a period during which we must accelerate our decarbonization efforts,’ said Mr González. ‘My number one priority as the new president of the GCCA is to collaborate closely with governments and industry to evolve the regulatory framework in ways that promote a more circular, lower-carbon economy. While we are making important progress today on our 2030 goals, we currently have the opportunity to accelerate even more the pace of our industry’s decarbonization if we can achieve the right regulatory policies and support from governments around the world.’

Thomas Guillot, chief executive of the GCCA, said: ‘I look forward to working closely with Fernando over the next two years as we advance on our net-zero roadmap. I know he is fully committed to achieving our shared goal, and the hard work and commitments that means for our industry.

Our industry’s first two presidents were based in Europe and it is a sign of progress that Mr Gonzalez is our first president from outside the region. His leadership will play an important role in accelerating our industry’s progress.’

Mr Gonzalez has worked for Cemex since 1998 and brings a wealth of experience in the cement and concrete industry. On the operational side, he has led various regions of Cemex, including Europe, Asia and South Central America, and the Caribbean, and has held corporate positions in strategy, planning, business development, and human resources.  He was appointed executive vice-president of planning and development in 2009, chief financial officer in 2011, and has been the company’s chief executive officer since 2014.