Dr. Claude H. Vanvoren

Born 08/02/1954

Married. Two children

Professional experience:

From 1/3/2017 : Consultant at C2V Consulting

1/4/16 - 28/2/17: Vice President, Strategic projects – Rio Tinto Aluminium - France

· Drive RTA Technology Strategic Projects on behalf of VP, Technology and Project Development

§First project on hold due to low market forecast

§Second project heading towards a Strategic Alliance with a major industry partner for the development of a game changer technology.

· Support senior management in new restructuring plan in France and associated organisation design.

· Additional responsibility :

§ICSOBA (International Committee for Study of bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium) President for 2016 and 2017. Development of an updated Vision, Mission and 5Y plan for the Organisation.

1/4/09 – 30/3/16: Vice President, Technology and R&D – Rio Tinto Aluminium (ex RT Alcan) – France

· Management responsibility for the Rio Tinto Aluminium Technology organisation: 175 millions $ US / 435 FTE in R&D and 135 FTE in Process Engineering in Canada (Saguenay), France (Rhône-Alpes/PACA) and Australia (Brisbane).

· Main management achievement :

§Complete overall Technology Strategy review. Recommendation endorsed by RTA ExCo.

§Implementation of major restructuring of Technology organisation (-30%) in France and Canada: definition of target organisation, negotiation with employee representatives, …..

§Implement merging of R&D and Process Engineering teams from Bauxite and Alumina group with Primary Metal groups.

Ø Common structure and Best Practises implemented. Renewed project portfolio with full support of internal customer

§Complete Technology Strategy review in RMH (Raw Material Handling) and Bayer Technology (Alumina Refinery) domains.

§Member of the RTA Business Improvement Council (in charge of delivering Business Full Potential program)

§Co-lead RTA Technology Value Stream evaluation

§Lead, for RTA-PM, an R&D site separation project as part of Rio Tinto asset disposal plan.

1/4/08 – 1/4/09: Vice President, Technology and R&D – Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal Group - France

· Management responsibility for the Primary Metal Technology organisation: 120 millions $ US budget / 460 FTE in R&D and 70 FTE in Process Engineering in Canada (Saguenay), France (Rhône-Alpes) and Australia.

· Main management achievement :

§Integration Task Force Leader for Primary Metal R&D following acquisition of Alcan by Rio Tinto.

Ø Through a highly participative process, identification of 17 millions $ / 66 FTE synergies and definition of target organisation and corresponding deployment plan.

§Successful merging of Process Engineering group with R&D organisation to support the “From Innovation to Technology Package” concept aimed to enhance Technology Leadership.

§Lead post acquisition Technology organisation integration.

§Lead the post integration review of Strategic R&D programs.

§Extension of Innovation process and CI vision throughout the extended group.

· Main technology team achievement :

§Implementation of the concept of “Industrial development platform” to reinforce focus on strategic programs.

§Successful progress of new reduction cell development programs. Technology delivered in time for growth expansion projects.

§Successful acceleration of breakthrough technologies development programs.

26/2/04 – 1/4/08: Director then Vice President R&D - Alcan Primary Metal Group – France

· Management responsibility for the Primary Metal R&D organisation: 380 FTE / 91 millions $ US budget about equally split between Canada (Saguenay) and France (Rhône-Alpes).

· Main management achievement :

§Leadership in EHS: initiative “2007, an injury free year in R&D” (including contractors) successfully concluded.

§Active contribution to the definition of the Primary Metal group Technology Strategy endorsed by Alcan Board of Directors in fall 2006.

§Development of the “Two Center of Excellence” organisation model for R&D. Endorsement by senior management and presentation to Canadian and French administration.

§Active promotion of the “Technology Career path” within the Company.

§Active contribution to the “Full Asset Potential” global design definition. Lead the development of a global Technology approach “From Innovation to Technology Package”

§Successful implementation of the R&D portfolio definition process involving all R&D clients (BU, Technology Sales, Functions) and including formal R&D budget and charge out approval.

§Lead implementation of a structured Innovation process throughout entire R&D organisation

§Lead definition of Continuous Improvement (CI) vision for R&D. Successful validation of the vision. Successful implementation.

§Initial (2004) integration synergies identification (43 FTE, 3.1 millions $ US) through competency portfolio analysis

1/1/99 – 26/2/04: General Manager - Smelter Technology Research Center (LRF) -Aluminium Pechiney - France

· Management responsibility for the Primary Metal R&D center: 130 FTE / 20 M€ budget.

· Main management achievement :

§Major improvement in safety results (2.5 years without recordable injury) and safety awareness.

§Implementation of R&D portfolio management process

Ø successfully audited against Pechiney standards

· 20 papers presented and 13 patent applications lodged

1/7/97 - 31/12/98: SAP Project Director - Tomago Aluminium Company - Australia

· Design and management of re-engineering activity in Purchasing, Maintenance, Accounting and IT process: strategic orientation, best practices identification and implementation.

· Overall project responsibility (14 millions $ US) and management (40 people project group)

Ø Start up on time with minimal plant operation disruption

1/7/95 - 1/7/97: Assistant Plant Manager (Technical) - Tomago Aluminium Company – Australia

· Overall responsibility for Plant technical performance (395 kt/year Al) and direct supervision of the 3 upstream production departments (480 people)

· Local co-ordination of Plant expansion feasibility study (+ 40kt/year; $ 160M)

· Lead an international benchmarking mission (Canada, Australia, France)

Ø 8 millions $ US cost savings identified; 2.3% controllable costs

1988 - 1995: Production Manager – France and Australia

· Tomago Aluminium Company – Australia - (395 kt/year Al; 250 people)

· Aluminium Pechiney – St Jean de Maurienne plant - France (120 kt/year Al; 120 employees)

· Aluminium Pechiney – Auzat plant - France (44 kt/year Al; 145 employees)

1981 - 1988: Research Engineer then Department Manager – Smelter Technology Research Center - Aluminium Pechiney - France

Educational program :

September 81 : PhD in Mineral Chemistry - “CO disproportionation” - INPG – Grenoble - France

July 78 : Master Degree in Solid State Electrochemistry - INPG – Grenoble - France

July 77 : Engineer School Degree in Electrochemistry and Electrometallurgy - INPG – Grenoble – France

Other involvements:

ICSOBA (International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium) President
Member of the TMS (The Mineral, Metals and Material Society) Nomination Committee.
RTA Voting Representative to the Industrial Research Institute (USA).
Member of the “Cercle des Partenaires”, Industrial partners to the French “Académie des Technologies”.
Member of the “Club de l’Innovation” of l’Usine Nouvelle (French weekly newspaper devoted to Industry)
Alcan Primary Metal representative to the “European Aluminium Technology Platform” launched by the European Aluminium Association.
Pechiney representative to the PRIMA project. A collaborative R&D project (Primary Aluminium Production: Recovering Energy, Reducing Emission, Recycling Material) prepared by the Primary Aluminium industry in the context of the 6th European Framework Program.