Cransberg takes Alcoa reins

ALCOA vice president, Alan Cransberg, has been appointed president of Global Primary Products Australia, effective February 1, 2008. Mr Cransberg will be looking after Alcoa’s interest in the Australian Region. He will be responsible for the bauxite mines, alumina refineries and aluminum smelters, and includes the Huntly bauxite mine, the Kwinana, Pinjarra and Wagerup alumina refineries, Anglesea Power Station and the Pt. Henry and Portland smelters.

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Alcoa of Australia has appointed Alan Cransberg to head its Booragoon-based operations, replacing Wayne Osborn who retires early next year.

A Western Australian, Mr Cransberg has been based in the US since 2001 where most recently he was president, global manufacturing for Alcoa's Global Primary Products group based in New York. This job focused on operating responsibilities for mining, smelting and refining operations in the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Surinam, Europe and Jamaica.

Due to his experience and the importance of Alcoa's Australian operations, Mr Cransberg will also be responsible for best practice sharing and technology development for Alcoa's global mining and alumina refining system. He is also a vice-president of Alcoa Inc.

The new Australian head of Alcoa began his career in WA, graduating in 1980 from the University of Western Australia with an honours degree in civil engineering. He worked in the Alcoa Bauxite Mining Group and the WA alumina refining system in various engineering, business analysis, planning and managerial positions. He was appointed Pinjarra Alumina Refinery location manager in 1998. In 2001, he moved to the U.S. to become location manager of Alcoa's Point Comfort alumina and chemicals complex in Texas. In 2003, he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, as president of Primary Metals, USA. His job was expanded to president of Primary Metals, North America in 2004, with direct responsibility for locations in the US and Canada as well as coordination of Alcoa's worldwide smelting facilities.

He is to returning to Australia with his wife Jenny and his four children.