Aggregate Industries, part of the LafargeHolcim group, has taken ownership of cement plants in Cauldon, Staffordshire and Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The transfer of ownership of the two plants to Aggregate Industries, along with a quarry at Cauldon Low and a cement terminal at Belfast Docks, follows the global merger between Lafarge and Holcim.

The transfer was finalised on Monday 20 July and also involves the transfer of 250 employees from the existing operations to Aggregate Industries.

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Pat Ward, CEO, Aggregate Industries, said: "These are exciting times for Aggregate Industries. Along with the wider benefits of being part of the new LafargeHolcim group, the integration of cement production represents a significant strategic opportunity for us. We’re now able to offer our customers the full range of construction materials and solutions, while maintaining our high levels of customer service."

The new cement division will be led by Joe Hudson, Managing Director, Cement & Concrete Products. Joe joins Aggregate Industries from Lafarge, where he has worked in a number of key functional and operational roles since 2001. He has been heavily involved in preparations for the LafargeHolcim merger as Group Senior Vice President for Organisation & Development at Lafarge and has experience of running a cement business, having previously worked as MD/CEO for Lafarge Wapco Plc in Nigeria.