USA Rare Earth has appointed Thras Moraitis, former chief executive of Serra Verde Group, to lead the firm starting Oct. 1. The move follows the finalization of a $2.8 billion merger between the two mining entities. Moraitis steps in to replace Barbara Humpton, who is set to retire from both her executive role and the company board.

Simultaneously, the European Commission has leveled accusations against ten construction chemical groups and three trade associations. Investigators provisionally concluded that these entities operated a cartel to artificially inflate prices in the wake of the pandemic and the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.