$27 billion Alcoa has appointed Nicholas DeRoma as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, effective Aug. 3. In addition to leading Alcoa’s legal and compliance operations worldwide, DeRoma will also serve on the executive council.

He succeeds Michael Schell, who will continue to serve as executive vice president of business development and as a member of the executive council.

DeRoma joins Alcoa from Nortel Networks Corporation, where he served as chief legal officer in Canada, leading a global staff of 475 professionals. Prior to joining Nortel, he served 25 years at IBM, where he served in posts in Europe, Asia, and North America.