Christian Roth, former Straumsvík smelter CEO, dies

Dr Christian Roth, former chief executive of the Straumsvík aluminium smelter, has died aged 88, mbl.is reports. He died in Germany on September 1 after a long illness.

Roth was born in Munich, Germany, on August 13, 1938. He studied physics and completed his doctorate at the University of Erlingen and the Technical University of Munich in 1966.

In 1967, he joined the Swiss company Alusuisse. He worked for Aluminium-Walzwerke Singen GmbH until 1974, when he moved to Alusuisse’s aluminium smelting division.

Roth first began working for the Straumsvík smelter, known as ÍSAL, in 1977, when he became its technical managing director. He held the position for two years before returning to Germany in 1979. He then became one of two chief executives of LMG Essen, Alusuisse’s largest aluminium plant in West Germany.

After Ragnar S. Halldórsson stepped down as chief executive of the Icelandic Aluminium Company in August 1988, Roth was appointed as his successor. He led the smelter until the end of 1996, when Rannveig Rist took over. Roth later served on the company’s board.

During Roth’s tenure, the smelter was rebuilt and its operations modernised. Pollution controls at the plant were also improved, and Roth was known for his strong interest in environmental issues.

At a ceremony marking the expansion of the Straumsvík smelter in 1997, Iceland’s then president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, said Roth had shown in previous years that an aluminium plant executive could also be a strong supporter of environmental protection. He thanked Roth for setting that example.

Roth was married to Dagmar Roth, who moved with him to Iceland. They had three sons, born in 1966, 1971 and 1977.