Century Aluminum names Bless president and CEO

Aluminum producer Century Aluminum Co. named Michael Bless its president and CEO.

 

 

The appointment comes nearly three months after former President and CEO Logan Kruger left the company and sued it, alleging breach of contract and wrongful termination. At the time Century Aluminum said that Kruger's claims were without merit.

 

 

Bless was named acting president and CEO then. He has served as chief financial officer and executive vice president of the company since January 2006. Before joining Century, Bless was CFO of Rockwell Automation.

 

 

"Mike has shown excellent leadership during this interim period and has clearly demonstrated to the Board that he is the right person to lead Century and its experienced management team," Chairman Terence Wilkinson said in a statement.

 

 

Shares of Century Aluminum, based in Monterey, Calif., fell 13 cents to $10.84 in midday trading.