CHICAGO — Norsk Hydro ASA has appointed Hans-Joachim Kock as head of finance for its bauxite and aluminum business.

Kock had served as executive vice president of extruded products. He replaces Eivind Kallevik, who was recently named Norsk Hydro’s chief financial officer (amm.com, Dec. 18), the Oslo, Norway-based company said Jan. 18.

Kock’s appointment is subject to the closing of a planned joint venture between Norsk Hydro and Oslo-based Orkla ASA, owner of Sapa Group, to form a global extrusion company. The deal, which remains subject to approval from antitrust officials, is expected to close in the first half of the year (amm.com, Oct. 15).