Leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. is accelerating initiatives to improve sustainability with the appointment of senior leaders to further drive performance in key areas.
The company appointed Zoe Sibala, former Vice President of Strategy to Senior Vice President of Sustainability, and expanded the role of Richard Cruz, Vice President of Health, Safety, and Security, to include the Environment portfolio. The appointments took effect on 15 August 2021.
Horia Adrian, President and CEO of Holcim Philippines: “We intend to win with purpose at Holcim Philippines by having a positive social and environmental impact as we grow our business. Having senior leaders focused on these will help us achieve our goal of leading the building materials industry in resource efficiency, environmental stewardship, health and safety, and corporate social responsibility. We are confident that Zoe and Richard will further fast-track sustainability initiatives so we can be a stronger partner of the Philippines in building progress.”
As Head of Strategy since 2017, Sibala helped craft Holcim Philippines’ plans to expand its business amid a more competitive market environment. She held leadership roles in finance, strategy, and business development in legacy Lafarge Philippines’ aggregates unit, which was acquired by Holcim in 2015. Sibala holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business, De La Salle University and a degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines.
Cruz was appointed Vice President for Health, Safety, and Security in 2018. Prior to this, he held leadership roles in the department and drove improvements in these areas across the business. He joined Holcim Philippines’ waste management unit Geocycle as laboratory engineer in 2008 and helped it attain an Integrated Management System certification (Quality, H&S and Environment). A graduate of the Central Luzon State University, Cruz is a licensed chemist and a certified security professional. He holds certifications in health and safety from accrediting organizations such as the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and the International Safety Rating System (ISRS).
Holcim Philippines is accelerating programs for sustainability and innovation to drive business performance and contribute to building progress in the Philippines. In May, Holcim Philippines published its first Integrated Annual Report which follows the sustainability disclosure standards of the Global Reporting Initiative.
This year, the company has invested to improve the energy efficiency of cement production facilities. Holcim Philippines is also expanding its portfolio of blended cement products, which includes infrastructure and water proofing solutions Holcim Solido and Holcim Aqua X, respectively, to help customers build more with less.
Furthermore, the company is helping address the waste management challenge in the country by converting qualified wastes into alternative fuels and raw materials for cement production. It is also participating in the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay through the Circular Explorer, a solar-powered catamaran sent by the Holcim Group that can collect up to four tons of plastic litter daily.
