Interim CEO Jim North is firmly focused on decarbonisation , renewables expansion and autonomous fleet development
FERREXPO
Interim CEO Jim North is firmly focused on decarbonisation , renewables expansion and autonomous fleet development
Ferrexpo Interim CEO Jim North ’ s “ big three ” are probably not that dissimilar from many of his counterparts : growth , decarbonisation and technology . But the fact that we spend the best part of an hour discussing them underlines their vital importance to the iron ore pellet company ’ s overall strategy .
North has been with Ferrexpo for seven years and Interim CEO since 2020 . He speaks clearly and in an assured manner , which again is indicative of his focus .
As Group COO between 2014 and 2020 , operational efficiency and discipline were priorities , but now as CEO , the task is how best to execute the growth and decarbonisation strategy for the Swiss-based commodity trading and mining company , listed on the London Stock Exchange , whose operations are in Ukraine ; North is actually speaking to me from central Dubai , which seems strangely appropriate too for such an international entity ( the Gulf city serves Kiev with two flights a day ).
So to growth first . In its half-year results for 2021 , revenues rose 74 % to US $ 1,353 million , profit after tax came in at $ 661 million , and pellet production totalled 5.6 million tonnes ; the pandemic-defying figures were attributed to a ‘ multi-year investment programme in our assets ’.
North remains humble though . “ You never conclude business improvement – there are
40 January 2022