THE largest producer of construction aggregates in the US, Vulcan Materials Company, based in Birmingham, Alabama, has announced the following leadership changes, with effect from 1 January 2014, as part of the company’s management succession process.<br /><br />Tom Hill, previously senior vice-president of the company’s South Region, has been promoted to the position of executive vice-president and chief operating officer for Vulcan Materials.  This will afford Mr Hill the opportunity to direct the operations of the entire company while further developing in a senior corporate role.<br /><br />John McPherson, previously senior vice-president of Vulcan’s East Region, has been promoted to the position of executive vice-president and chief financial officer. This will provide further development opportunities for Mr McPherson at the senior corporate level while taking advantage of his strengths as a manager developed during his long career with McKinsey & Co., and with Vulcan over the last two years.<br /><br />Danny Shepherd, previously executive vice-president and chief operating officer, has been promoted to the position of vice-chairman of the company. In this new role, Mr Shepherd will support and advise the company on important matters including organization, business development and succession planning, while also helping facilitate the transition of the new management team.<br /><br />Dan Sansone, previously executive vice-president and chief financial officer, has been appointed as executive vice-president - strategy. Mr Sansone will lead important strategic initiatives for the company while also being engaged in assisting the transition of the new senior managers. Mr Sansone plans to retire from the company at the end of 2014.<br /><br />‘These are key steps in our succession planning process, which is an important and ongoing focus of our board of directors,’ said Vulcan’s chairman and chief executive officer, Don James. ‘We are blessed with great talent and experience at Vulcan, and these appointments position us well for future growth opportunities that will further enhance shareholder value.’<br /><br />He continued: ‘Tom, John, Danny and Dan have played immensely important roles for Vulcan and will continue to do so in their new positions. We are excited about our future, and about their roles in helping shape it.’