New management appointments

WE Soda announces senior management appointments

2 March 2023

WE Soda, the world’s largest producer of natural soda ash, announces a number of senior management appointments, with the objective of strengthening its organisation to ensure the company is best positioned to maintain and extend its leadership position within the global soda ash industry.

Chief Strategy Officer

Nicholas Hall joins WE Soda as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) from JP Morgan, where he was a Managing Director within the investment bank, with over 27 years of capital markets and strategic advisory experience. He has worked closely with WE Soda for the last five years and he has been involved, as a lead advisor, in all of the company’s most important strategic projects. As a result, he is very familiar with the business, and its leadership, strategy and culture. Nicholas will be based in London and report to the CEO, but he will also work with the Board and all senior leaders to develop, implement and monitor different aspects of strategy, in all areas of the business.

Chief Operating Officer

Tanzer Ergul has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO), with overall responsibility for the company’s global production operations. Tanzer was previously Vice President Operations and general manager of Eti Soda and Kazan Soda, the company’s main operating assets. Tanzer will remain based in Turkey, reporting to the CEO, and he will continue to Chair the Boards of Eti Soda and Kazan Soda.

Other Senior Appointments

Anita Siddle has been promoted to Global Sustainability Director, based in London and reporting to the CEO. Previously, Anita was global H&S and ESG Manager. In her new role, Anita will be responsible for coordinating the company’s global sustainability strategy and policies, as well as monitoring and reporting the company’s sustainability performance to the Board and stakeholders.
Ahmet Keskus has been promoted to Vice President Operations for West Soda, the company’s new 3 million mtpa greenfield soda ash development project located in Wyoming, USA. Ahmet will be based in Wyoming and will be responsible for all design, engineering and operations at this new project, reporting to the COO globally and locally to Oguz Erkan, CEO of the company’s US activities.
Nazif Akay has been promoted to General Manager of Eti Soda, reporting to the COO. Nazif will also join the Board of Eti Soda in due course.
Mehmet Unver is promoted to General Manager of Kazan Soda, reporting to the COO. Mehmet will also join the Board of Kazan Soda in due course.
Ferhat Soylu is promoted to Turkish Sustainability Director, based at Kazan and reporting to the COO and the Global Sustainability Director. Ferhat Bey will manage a team that will coordinate the sustainability strategy and policies at both Eti Soda and Kazan Soda, and he will be responsible for monitoring and reporting performance to local and global leadership.

Alasdair Warren, Chief Executive Officer of WE Soda, commented: “I am very pleased to announce these new appointments. We are at an exciting time in the development of the company and these appointments will strengthen our leadership in key areas of focus for our business: sustainability, operations and growth. I welcome Nicholas to WE Soda and I congratulate my colleagues on their new roles.”

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