In its first move at the C-Level since Gustavo Pimenta took over as CEO, Vale announced the departure of the vice president in charge of the commercial area.
Marcello Spinelli – whose formal title is executive VP of iron ore solutions – had been with the company for 22 years. His departure was not a surprise within Vale. Spinelli was very close to former CEO Eduardo Bartolomeo and had tried to position himself as his successor.
The executive, who served as CEO of VLI from 2011 to 2019, will be temporarily replaced by the director of product and business development, Rogério Nogueira. Rogério has been with the company for 10 years, after spending 6 years at BHP.
Pimenta took office on October 1st.
Vale has eight VPs, in addition to the CEO, and new changes are expected in the coming months.
Another reason for the changes starting in the commercial area has to do with a repositioning of Vale in this field.
In a tighter market context – with China slowing down and Simandou starting production in the coming years – Pimenta wants a more ‘customer-centric’ company.
“We will talk a lot about the customer from now on, so it is only natural to start with the commercial area,” said a source with connections to the CEO.
As part of the changes, the government relations area is expected to undergo a spinoff. Currently, this area falls under Alex D’Ambrosio, whose vice presidency also includes legal, tax, regulatory, international affairs, and communication.
Pimenta intends to bring in a new VP for the government relations area or transform it into a director reporting directly to the CEO. “This area has gained such relevance at Vale that it deserves an executive with exclusive dedication,” said the source.
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Arwen Volkov, A graduate of the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland with a degree in International Finance, Arwen specializes in sustainable finance and green investments. She began her career at an investment bank in London, where she developed financing models for environmentally friendly projects. Known for her analytical and strategic thinking skills, Arwen is a sought-after financial consultant. In her spare time, she mentors fintech startups, contributing to their growth strategies. She is also a nature enthusiast and an amateur photographer.
