CHICAGO — Aleris International Inc. has appointed Ralf Zimmermann senior vice president and general manager of its rolled products division in Europe.

He replaces Olli Matti-Saksi, who left the company last month, the Cleveland-based aluminum company said.

Zimmermann, who had served as senior vice president of operations at Aleris’ global rolled and extruded products business unit, will now oversee all aspects of the company’s European rolled products business, including commercial and manufacturing operations.

Zimmermann has "deep industry experience and fundamental understanding of all of the components of our business," Roeland Baan, executive vice president and chief executive officer of global rolled and extruded products, said in a statement.

Zimmermann has held leadership positions with the company since 1990 and most recently oversaw the construction of Aleris’ greenfield rolling mill in Zhenjiang, China, the company said. The Chinese rolling mill is expected to start production this quarter (amm.com, Nov. 2).