Toronto, ON, Canada - Verde Potash, a fertilizer development company, appoints Leonardo Moretzsohn as chairman of the board of directors and Jose Fernando Coura as a director of the board.
Article continues below
Mr. Moretzsohn has 30 years of project finance experience in the development and implementation of various mining projects, including the Carajas iron ore and Salobo copper projects and the Alunorte alumina refinery.
During his 24 year tenure at Vale S.A, Mr. Moretzsohn had an active role restructuring the non-ferrous division after the company's privatization and implementing the strategic planning process for the iron ore and aluminum businesses.
Mr. Moretzsohn supported Vale's execution of a number of M&A transactions in iron ore and base metals projects.
When Vale acquired Inco, Mr. Moretzsohn was appointed CFO and was a member of the committee responsible for integrating the acquired company into Vale's business model and coordinating the financial activities of Vale Inco and its subsidiaries in Canada, Indonesia and New Caledonia.
He has served as a Director on Boards both in Brazil and abroad, including those of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk and Samarco Mineraçao (a Brazilian iron ore joint venture between Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton).
During his tenure with EBX Group, Mr. Moretzsohn was appointed CFO of MMX Minas Rio and EBX Holding S.A.
Mr. Moretzsohn was also appointed CEO of CCX to develop a major greenfield thermal coal project in Colombia.
Mr. Coura is presently the CEO of the Instituto Brasileiro de Mineraçao (IBRAM - Brazilian Mining Association), Brazil's largest non-governmental organization articulating and representing the mining industry, and Vice-President of the Federaçao das Indústrias de Minas Gerais (FIEMG - Association of Industries of Minas Gerais State), a prominent organization which represents companies from all economic sectors.
Prior to ascending to IBRAM's presidency, Mr. Coura's career has been devoted to the mining sector, in which he has held distinguished positions at both the government and corporate levels.
In the private sector, besides the managerial functions of Mr. Coura's leadership, he was responsible for structuring investments for the implementation and expansion of various mining projects.
Notably, between 1984 and 1992, he served as the Executive Director of the CAEMI Group ("CAEMI"), a major Brazilian iron ore producer acquired by Vale in 2006.
Mr. Coura is currently a member of the Board at Fidens Engenharia S/A, a heavy engineering firm.
In the public and not-for-profit sectors, throughout 1999 to 2001 Mr. Coura served as Secretary of Mines and Energy of Minas Gerais State, Brazil's largest mining state by volume and value and also the home state of Verde Potash.
Other key positions include President of the Brazilian Mining Association (IBRAM), Vice-President of the Federation of Industries of Minas Gerais State (FIEMG), President of the Union of Mining Companies of Minas Gerais State (SINDIEXTRA) and Vice-President of the National Union of Iron and Basic Metals Companies (SINFERBASE).
Mr. Coura sits on the Board of a number of Brazilian foundations, including the State Environment Foundation (FEAM), the Geology and Mining State Counsel (CEGEM) and State Council for Environmental Policy (COPAM).
Mr. Coura has been awarded honorary titles by the Minas Gerais State government, the Institution of Economics Academy of Minas Gerais, the State governments of Pará and EspÃrito Santo, and by FIEMG for Industrial Merit. ■