OREANDA-NEWS. On July 24, 2008 a new organizational structure of the Corporate Centre at MMC Norilsk Nickel was approved. The key objective is to simplify the Company’s management system by consolidating structural units that report immediately to the General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel, reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

Particularly, a new position of the First Deputy General Director appears in the staff schedule, while the number of Deputy General Directors and the number of subdivisions directly subordinate to the Company’s General Director is reduced from 22 to 15.  

The scope of competence of the First Deputy General Director will encompass such matters as economics, finances, investment policy, internal control, investor relations, as well as supervision of the overseas assets, i.e. Norilsk Nickel International. The position of the First Deputy General Director was offered to Alexander Popov, Chairman of the Management Board of AKB Rosbank.

Evgeny Potapov was appointed Deputy General Director, Head of Mining and Metallurgical business unit. His scope of competence will embrace day-to-day performance of the Company’s mining and metallurgical operations, development of exploration projects to ensure the expansion of mineral reserves and resources, and the issues of environment protection and environmental management.

Kirill Parinov was appointed Deputy General Director in charge of corporate, proprietary and legal matters. His scope of competence will cover legal support, organizational development, corporate reorganization and property management. 

Viktor Sprogis was appointed Deputy General Director responsible for the sales business unit. Deputy General Director Igor Klochko became Head of Fuel and Energy business unit.

The new organizational structure envisages direct subordination to the General Director on the part of Deputy General Director for Personnel and Social Policy, Deputy General Director for Strategy and Development, as well as the Security Department, the Department of Federal and Regional Programs, Public Relations Department, Administration and General Services Department, Transport and Logistics Directorate, Procurement Directorate, New Mining Projects Directorate.

The Company will continue development and promotion of social partnership,  will consistently pursue environmental responsibility policy, and remain committed to transparency and openness in its business activities.  

The formation of MMC Norilsk Nickel’s executive bodies shall be completed on August 8, 2008 when the Board of Directors will consider the new membership of the Management Board. It is proposed that the Management Board includes General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel Sergey Batekhin, First Deputy General Director Alexander Popov,  Head of the Company’s Polar Division Viktor Tomenko, Deputy General Director for Economics and Finances Oleg Lobanov, Deputy General Director for Corporate, Proprietary and Legal Issues Kirill Parinov,  Head of Mining and Metallurgical Business Unit Evgeny Potapov, Deputy General Director for Sales Business Unit Viktor Sprogis.

“Changes in the organizational structure are in tune with ongoing reorganization of the Company’s management system compliant with the best practices of corporate governance of  large international corporations. This is an important preparative step towards creating one of the largest international mining and metallurgical companies on the basis of MMC Norilsk Nickel”, - noted General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel Sergey Batekhin.