The board approved his appointment as CEO and chair of the management board on September 3, the Kazakhstan National Atomic Company said yesterday.

The appointment was expected after the company said at the end of August Sharipov would take over as acting CEO. 

Sharipov replaces Galymzhan Pirmatov, who said last month he would leave on September 2 to pursue another opportunity.

Sharipov had been with the company since 2015, most recently as chief nuclear fuel cycle officer (CNFCO).

Director of the nuclear fuel cycle department Dosbolat Sarymsakov was appointed interim CNFCO.

Kazatomprom also appointed mining department director Aliya Akzholova as interim COO after Askar Kassabekov decided to take early retirement and resigned on Friday from the role he had taken on in May.

"The company, with the support of the board of directors, has initiated a recruitment process to assess the most appropriate candidates to replace Mr Kassabekov," Kazatomprom said.

Board of directors chair Neil Longfellow said Sharipov was well-equipped to lead the company and execute its 2018-2028 strategy, with a continued focus on generating value for stakeholders.

"As with other recent changes in the management team, this appointment is in line with the company's succession plan, which was developed following the IPO," he said.

Kazatomprom said it was responsible for about 41% of global uranium primary supply in 2020.

 

The headline in this story has been changed; it previously stated Kazatomprom had begun a search for a new CFO, but in fact - as the article states - it is the COO Askar Kassabekov who has retired.