Michael Reich has been appointed CEO of Minova International, replacing Sandy Arbuthnot who stepped down on January 31, 2008, after nearly 10 years at the helm. Sandy developed Minova into a global mining consumables company and will continue to support Michael in an advisory capacity through 2008.
Michael takes up the reins at a very exciting time for Minova. His appointment follows the acquisition of US-based Excel Mining Services by Minova parent company, Orica. This strategic acquisition has provided the perfect platform to combine the two businesses – under the Minova name – to create a single, stronger business as one powerful force to become global leader for the supply of rock bolting products to the mining and tunnelling industries.
A German national with broad experience in the mining industry, Michael was previously CEO of Minova CarboTech Gmbh with responsibility for Europe (excluding Poland) and Russia and has been instrumental in the significant growth and development of this business over the last five years.
In his new role Michael has moved from Germany to the new Melbourne based head quarters of Minova in the Orica corporate offices.
Michael Reich is upbeat about his new position: “I very much look forward to my new role and the opportunities presented by the combined Minova and Excel business. Our immediate challenge is the integration of Minova and Excel into a combined US business and then the integration of that business, along with the rest of Minova, into Orica.
“Equally important is realising our growth strategy which will see us pursuing organic growth and looking at strategic acquisitions. We now have the complete product package for our customers with Minova’s chemical resins and Excel’s bolt capacity and, as global leader in rock bolting, we aim to role out our products and technology worldwide.”
Michael Reich’s appointment is one of a number of senior management appointments currently being undertaken to support a new organisation structure for operating the new business. These will be announced shortly.