Life @ CEMEX

My career started with the company in 2001 with RMC, prior to its acquisition by CEMEX in 2005. I was working in procurement in the cement operations part of the business. During the post-merger integration (PMI) period, it quickly became evident that working for CEMEX was going to be a different experience than working for RMC. It wasn't that one culture was better than the other. They were just different. CEMEX is a very fast paced, results-driven business with a focus on key values: Leadership, Collaboration and Integrity.

Following the PMI, I was offered the opportunity to run our ash and import terminals operations in the UK. A year later, in 2006, I was chosen to attend an Institutional Leadership Development Program. This is an intensive, one-year program, which brought CEMEX people from around the world to work and study together. Aside from the obvious learning experience, it gave us a real opportunity to network with colleagues from other CEMEX countries, and to make new friends, while having lots of fun along the way. That year remains a highlight of my professional career and is something that I will remember, and cherish forever.

“Working for CEMEX is a whole different experience.”

The following year, I had the opportunity to change jobs again, becoming Regional Director for Aggregates in the South of England & Wales. One of the real benefits of working for CEMEX is that they are not afraid to toss you a real challenge if you are up for it. You don't need to have years of experience in a particular function or business area to be considered for a position here. We like managers to have good all-round business experience in all areas, which really widens the career opportunities in the company for those that seek, and engage challenge and change.

I now perform another role as Vice President, Cement Commercial, Building Products and Logistics. It really has been a whirlwind of a ride. I genuinely believe I have been fortunate to have amassed as much management experience in the relatively short time I have worked for CEMEX—experience that some people don't even get in a lifetime. I have been offered opportunities to tackle new and challenging roles, to lead, and work alongside with some fantastic people along the way. I'm not sure you can ask for much more!

We guarantee a safe and healthy work environment for our people, and continually provide them development opportunities that are interesting and challenging. Team work capacity, leadership and the continual search for innovative business improvements and opportunities—are the key elements for achieving personal goals, and contributing to the company success.

Working for CEMEX gives me the opportunity to live with passion; on a daily basis I get to listen to the members of my team explain new value proposals to improve our productivity. I also communicate with colleagues around the world who have the same expertise in order to exchange points of view, information and knowledge; in my experience, my colleagues are always happy to share their expertise and informed opinions.

“I’m passionate about my work at CEMEX.”

My career at CEMEX began in 1999 with CEMEX’s acquisition of Cementos del Pacífico S.A., where I had worked in the maintenance department since 1985. CEMEX promoted me to Milling Manager, and the following year I became the Technical Services Manager, where I was responsible for providing maintenance support to our operations and new projects. A year after that I was named Production Manager for the Colorado Plant, and in March of 2003 I was then promoted to the position I currently hold: Director of Cement Operations for Costa Rica.

During my time as Director, the Costa Rican operations have achieved several notable accomplishments: We had the best safety record among the South America & Caribbean’s operations during the years 2003, 2008, and 2009; we significantly reduced carbon emissions by reducing the clinker factor; and in CEMEX’s Latin-American operations, we are the leaders in substituting alternative energy for traditional power.

It is inspiring for me to work in a business that it is constantly striving to reduce its footprint on the world. That it is not afraid to innovate and to take accountability for its people’s safety and development. As an operator this has inspired me to perform and proudly continue working at CEMEX.

When I first heard of CEMEX in mid-2001, I must admit that I did not have a clue about the company. Yet, four months later, I became part of CEMEX Philippines’ new logistics team, as Logistics Planning Manager. The company had just crafted a pioneering direct-to-retail distribution strategy and the role of logistics was critical. The plans were aggressive—a real CEMEX trait—and I was tasked to introduce supply chain management to the company, and to improve customer service through better collaboration among the sales, logistics and production areas.

In July 2004, the Country President called me into his office to tell me that the Logistics Vice President had suddenly left the company, and he assigned me to take charge of the department. The management team proved to be very supportive. The president, along with other department heads, took turns mentoring, and giving me management pointers.

“I must admit that I did not have a clue about the company.”

In 2006, I joined an Institutional —a course designed exclusively for CEMEX to give its executives access to a world-class education, and to enhance networking among the company’s executives. CEMEX believes that innovation and collaboration is best taught through sharing each other’s ideas and experiences.

In August 2008, the logistics and commercial departments were merged, and I was assigned to head the new group. It was a tough time since we needed to increase our cash sales, and reduce trade receivables significantly. Nevertheless, a year later, our trade receivables were cut in half, and we were selling more than the previous year.

Since August 2010, I have assumed my new role as the Country Director for CEMEX’s operation in Bangladesh. Overseeing an entire business unit is a totally different responsibility for me. But I am not overly concerned; I am confident that the training, experiences and values that I have gained from CEMEX will enable me to get this new job done.

In my view, the qualities that a colleague needs to thrive in our company’s culture are: a willingness to learn continuously; an execution mentality; a customer orientation—both external and internal; and leadership—the ability to inspire and unleash the best from each individual.

I graduated in 1996 from Zagreb University with a major in International Trade. In 1998, I joined RMC as an export manager in Croatia. RMC was acquired by CEMEX in 2005. I remember watching our new CEO's greeting in which he mentioned “exciting times ahead of us.” Frankly speaking, at that time, I did not realize the full depth of those words; the real excitement had just started!

“CEMEX is different.”

A couple of months later, I was sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish a CEMEX company. Before the end of 2005, I became the first Director of a newly founded CEMEX’s company in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, I was a member of Board of Directors of CEMEX’s daughter company in Montenegro. In early 2006, I became a member of the team that started, and implemented the process of reshaping of our commercial strategy, which resulted in partnerships with almost 500 business clients, producers and retailers across our local markets.

CEMEX sponsored my MBA studies at IEDC business school in Bled, Slovenia, from which I graduated in December 2006. In early 2008, I became Director of Human Resources in Croatia, and I led the department for the next two years. I believe that very few companies are truly open to cross-departmental moves, but CEMEX is different. We see that such moves really increase the potential for career growth. Furthermore, I was most impressed by the amount of attention and effort that CEMEX puts on some concepts, which for other organizations are just “buzzwords.” The best example is Health and Safety. Our management meetings always start with safety as the first topic and the message is clear—safety comes first. We genuinely care that all of our workers and contractors return home from work just as safely as they came to work in the morning.

Two years later, I returned to the commercial area, leading CEMEX Croatia's commercial and logistics department throughout Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Montenegro. I look forward to new excitement, bearing in mind one famous quote: “The most important question to ask on the job is not 'What am I getting?'; the most important question to ask is 'What am I becoming?'”. At CEMEX, we all have a great opportunity to become better people and better professionals.