Arase-san will retire from the company at the end of June 2014. Higashi-san currently, general manager, Mitsubishi Corporation RtM Japan's Aluminium Metals Department will replace Arase-san. Higashi-san has worked for Mitsubishi since graduating from University in 1983, where he developed broad experience from resource investment to trading, including a successful career in aluminium trading in Japan and internationally.
Geoff Watson, director of Asian sales at Rusal, commented: “During his tenure, Arase-san has overseen Rusal primary aluminium shipments of close to 2 million tonnes over the period. His pursuit of improved quality and service has led to the significant growth of Rusal’s value added products in Japan, including primary foundry alloys, billets and slabs, to where the market acknowledges the capability of Rusal’s operational capability. We thank Arase-san for his dedicated service and wish him well for the future.”
Higashi-san will join Rusal on 1st March 2014.