Novelis Inc., which is to be spun-off from Alcan Inc. on Jan. 1, announced last week that it has chosen Atlanta for its global executive headquarters and is to operate 37 facilities in 12 countries throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Gov. Sonny Perdue said during a press conference at the Georgia Capitol on Dec. 17 that Novelis would have strong ties to South America thereby strengthening Atlanta’s candidacy as the headquarters for the Free Trade Areas of the Americas.
Brian Sturgell, who is to be CEO and president of Novelis, said that the new company would be the largest aluminum rolling and can recycling company by revenue and production volume in the world.
“Novelis produces products that touch us all from automotive equipment to food and beverage packaging, construction materials to aluminum foil,” Craig Lesser, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said in a news release.
Based on the past 12 months revenue of more than $7 billion, the Alcan operations, which are to become Novelis, would rank 270th on the Fortune 500 list.
“Novelis already has a strong presence in South America and it is these business relationships that we rely on in Atlanta’s bid for the FTAA headquarters,” Mr. Perdue said. “This is a real world testament from companies already operating in South America.”
The company is to employ 50 people with a payroll of some $15 million. Alcan facilities already operating in Greensboro and LaGrange are to become part of Novelis.
Alcan Inc. is headquartered in Montreal and its U.S. headquarters are located in Cleveland.
For more information, call Loretta Lepore at (404) 651-7774.