Natural resources giant UC Rusal has appointed BP's former Russian general counsel, Kirill Alexandrov, as its new legal chief.

Alexandrov joins the Russian metals giant – the world's largest producer of aluminium – from the Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK), which he joined in 2005 after a two-year stint as local legal chief at BP.

In his new role, Alexandrov – who has also enjoyed spells with oil company Sidanco and Glencore International – will oversee corporate transactions, partnership projects and fund-raising. He will also be charged with supervising a revamp of Rusal's corporate governance.

The appointment comes as Rusal attempts to push ahead with its delayed $9bn (£4.6bn) listing on the London Stock Exchange, which was first proposed last year.

The listing has been dogged with setbacks after the company was hit with a number of legal claims, including a challenge brought by Israeli entrepreneur Michael Cherney.

Rusal was recently advised by City giant Ashurst and longstanding adviser Egoriv Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners on its acquisition of a 25% stake in Norlisk, the world's largest nickel producer.

Rusal – the product of a 2007 three-way merger also involving SUAL and the aluminium business of Glencore – accounts for 12% of the world's annual production of aluminium and 15% of its annual alumina quota. It trades in 70 countries and employs 100,000 people worldwide.

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