Mississippi Phosphates Corp. has announced plans to consolidate all operations to the company’s Pascagoula-based manufacturing facility, closing its administrative headquarter offices located in Madison, Miss.
“In light of pending retirements and other staffing changes, it makes sense to move these responsibilities to the plant,” said Jim Sherbert, Miss Phos CEO. “This allows us to increase efficiencies and eliminate costs associated with maintaining a remote headquarters location.”
“We are pleased as this brings decision-making to the local level, improving our ability to be nimble and address needs within the plant,” said Ajay Kumar, senior vice president, general manager of operations. “This is another step forward as we continue to make progress in advancing vital production, environmental and safety initiatives.” Kumar, who joined Miss Phos in May, leads a change management team that includes Pascagoula native Wes Smith as production manager and Robert Kerley as CFO. This team is tasked with identifying operational improvements, environmental enhancements and to implement approved corrective action plans.
“This change is timely given the retirement of long-time executives Ed McCraw, who has served as chief operating officer, and Jim Perkins, senior vice president,” said Sherbert.
“We appreciate the decades of committed service by Ed and Jim who have worked diligently to support and to keep this complex enterprise operating during difficult times. With their departure, this is the right time and right business decision as we work to address issues and improve operations.”
Fewer than 10 staffers will be affected by the closure of the Madison location. Miss Phos is a Delaware corporation that owns and operates manufacturing facilities in Pascagoula, Miss. Since 1958, the company’s production facilities have been located on a deep-water channel at Pascagoula, with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Facilities consist of two sulfuric acid plants, a phosphoric acid plant and a DAP granulation plant. The DAP granulation plant has a maximum annual production capacity of approximately 850,000 tons. The existing sulfuric acid plants have the capacity to produce sulfuric acid sufficient for annual DAP production of approximately 600,000-640,000 tons.