Eramet Norway has appointed Laurent Amat as its new Chief Financial Officer. His new office is located at Powerhouse, Porsgrunn.

Amat, who has a solid background in finance, is the new CFO of Eramet Norway.

‘I’m taking some time now because I want to understand the business. Once I have understood, then we can look at solutions. I’m pretty strict, but everyone is equal, and everyone must contribute. We must ensure customer satisfaction. Good customers, who pay well, and good employees who enjoy their tasks produce positive results, and this will provide money to improve our smelters,’ said Amat.

Headhunted

Amat was contacted by a recruitment agency, and he received an offer after a thorough process.

‘I had meetings with Marianne (Synnes Kaasa, HR, Mn Alloys), Mickael (Panol, finance, Mn Alloys) and Bjørn (Kolbjørnsen, director Mn Alloys), and I had a real interest in the company itself. It’s very nice when everyone is so passionate about the company. Ownership is important,’ said Amat.

He is looking forward to getting to know everyone.

‘We will develop the finance department further and ensure that our staff are satisfied. I like people, and I trust that people know their job. We will increase trust, and we will look at how we can manage CAPEX and the smelters. If Norway doesn’t work, then the business unit doesn’t work,’ said Amat.

Cost control, tax and electricity

The market for the manganese alloy industry and the metals industry is down, and it doesn’t look like it to will improve in the near future.

‘We need a balance. We must have control between the internal and our external customers. We need an ecosystem that works even better,’ said Amat.

Amat has nearly worked with finance all his life, and he is confident that he knows what is needed.

‘I’m going to push, and push, and push until we get it right. This is no hocus-pocus. Are we first? Will we meet the deadline? We must deliver on time. We are a team, and we must help each other. Economics is ultimately about what people have done: facts based on numbers, and those numbers explain what has happened. Are we strict? Definitely. Are we here for people? Definitely. It’s important that people are open and talk to each other,’ said Amat.