Benoit Robitaille

VP Project Management & Engineering - Eramet

Paris, Île-de-France, France

About

Experienced bilingual manager with extensive expertise in engineering, project management and operations management in mining and metallurgy. Excellent business sense, vision and strategic thinking and demonstrating strong interpersonal, analytical and decision-making skills. Proven ability to lead and mobilize multidisciplinary teams of technical, non-technical professionals and unionized employees in achieving corporate objectives. Emphasizes teamwork, participatory approach and employee empowerment. Ability to translate complex corporate objectives into simple and precise responsibilities in a process of continuous improvement of organizational and individual performance. Has successfully piloted the development and implementation of projects with capital costs up to $ 800 million. Extensive experience in negotiations with suppliers, government bodies, unions and stakeholders.

Experience

  • Eramet (4 yrs 10 mos)
    • VP Project Management & Engineering
      Jan 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 6 mos

    • Deputy VP BU Mineral Sands
      Sep 2021 - Dec 2023 · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • GCO (Grande Côte Opérations) (3 yrs 3 mos)
    • Chief Executive Officer
      Feb 2021 - Sep 2021 · 8 mos

    • Deputy CEO & Chief Technical Officer
      Sep 2019 - Feb 2021 · 1 yr 6 mos

    • Chief Technical Officer
      Jul 2018 - Sep 2019 · 1 yr 3 mos

      The Grande Côte mineral sands Operations (GCO) part of ERAMET is the largest single dredge mineral sands operation in the world producing high-quality zircon and ilmenite as well as small amounts of rutile and leucoxene. Chief Technical Officer responsible for coordinating all of GCO's technical activities related to mine planning, process control, engineering, quality control and strategic business development.

  • Director Engineering project N3P at Roquette
    Jan 2017 - Jul 2018 · 1 yr 7 mos

    Manage a green field pea protein project in Manitoba. This new facility represents an investment of more than 600 million Canadian dollars and will be the largest pea processing plant in the world.

  • Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (Sorel-Tracy (Quebec) Canada)
    • Engineering Director
      2015 - 2016 · 1 yr

      Managed all technical services and engineering CAPEX investment project at a metallurgical complex and mine site. Led and managed a team of 35 engineers and professionals in disciplines of mechanical, civil, electrical, process control and automation. Accountable for the management and prioritization of over $90m/year of engineering projects.

    • Manager Ore preparation plan, Port & Terminal
      2013 - 2015 · 2 yrs

      Managed all plant activities including production, maintenance, HSE, HR and union relation. Oversaw a staff of 40 and 280 unionized employees with budget responsibility of over $120 million. Plant included Ore treatment plant, Port loading and unloading of bulk material, Railroad system and Plant Utilities.

  • Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (8 yrs 1 mo)
    • Project Director TiO4 Canada
      2011 - 2013 · 2 yrs

      Key member of the management team responsible to bring to market new titanium dioxide raw materials by investing over $5 billion in 3 countries. Directed a program of brownfield expansion projects at mine site in Havre St-Pierre and Ilmenite Smelter at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, which represented a total capital of $800m. Selected and led owner’s team and engineering consultants.

    • Business Value Modeling Director
      2009 - 2011 · 2 yrs

      Oversaw business expansion valuation, 5 year production planning and impact assessment of new Climate Change Initiative regulation. Led the development of a Business Value Model that became the standard for business decision making in production planning and CAPEX investment.

    • Interim Mine Manager
      2010 - 2010 · Less than a year

      Managed all mining and terminal activities including production, maintenance, HSE, HR and union relation. Oversaw a staff of 50 and 300 unionized employees with budget responsibility of over $100 million.