Kuala lumpur: Brazilian mining company Vale SA has appointed Edwin Gerard as the chief executive officer (CEO) of its Malaysian subsidiary, Vale Malaysia Minerals Sdn Bhd. Gerard brings over 25 years of international experience in large-scale port operations, logistics, and infrastructure management, with a history of senior leadership roles across Oman, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkiye, and Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gerard's most recent role was as the chief operating officer of Johor Port Bhd. His appointment as the first Malaysian to hold this position underscores Vale's commitment to fostering local talent in the regions where it operates. Gerard will be responsible for overseeing one of Vale's key strategic hubs in Asia, which distributes approximately 20 million tonnes of iron ore annually, while focusing on maintaining safe, reliable, and sustainable operations.

Vale's Malaysian operations are supported by a workforce that is over 95 percent Malaysian, encompassing the Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal in Perak and its Asia Pacific corporate office in Kuala Lumpur. This terminal represents the largest single foreign direct investment in the state. Gerard succeeds Leonardo Paiva, who was instrumental in reinforcing Vale's dedication to a sustainable presence in Malaysia.

During Paiva's leadership, Vale engaged in various community-centered social investment partnerships with institutions in Perak. These initiatives included urban rejuvenation projects in Manjung, revitalizing areas like Beruas and Manjung Lama, and the establishment of the Teluk Rubiah Scholarship Programme to nurture high-potential local talent. Since its operations commenced in Teluk Rubiah in 2014, Vale has invested around RM80 million in social investments focusing on education, women empowerment, and environmental conservation.