He replaces Tor Nygard who has retired after two and half years of managing the business.

Mr Houeto told the Daily Graphic that he was assuming leadership of the company at a time when the country’s cement market had seen some significant growth in terms of storage capacity.

Mr Houeto said Dangote Cement would, as part of strategies to increase its market share, invest heavily in expanding its operations and at the same time introduce new services.

He added that product quality was a way of keeping ahead of competition.
 
“The supply chain market requires the need for product research and continuous improvement. The cement industry is still evolving, hence our determination to scale up the quality of our products to maintain our position in the market,” Mr Houeto stated.
 
Opportunities

Mr Houeto stated that the company would open its new plant, which is under construction in Takoradi, before the end of 2019.

The plant, when completed, would provide some 1,000 extra jobs to residents of the Western Region.

“Our activities are such that third party activities also go to create several opportunities, thus helping to reduce the unemployment rate in the country,” he said.

Asked about worker remuneration which had seen worker agitations at the company’s Tema factory in recent times, Mr Houeto indicated that there could always be room for improvement, which would translate into enhancing the company’s productivity.

“We will seize the opportunity to improve the general average welfare of every employee since it will be in the company’s interest to have a well-motivated workforce,” he stressed.

Mr Houeto has over a decade experience at top management in the cement industry across Africa.

 He was the Country Managing Director of Lafarge Cement, Guinea, until his recent appointment.

“I am highly delighted to join Dangote Cement, undoubtedly the biggest cement manufacturing company in Africa.

There is a lot of potential for us in Ghana and we are determined to lead the market in terms of quality and customer service, ”Mr Houeto stressed.