The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Board of Directors has elected United States Steel Corp. President and CEO John P. Surma Jr. to a one-year term as AISI Chairman.

In this role, Surma will lead the Institute's pro-manufacturing agenda, which, according to Andrew G. Sharkey III, AISI President and CEO, is the key to maintaining a vibrant North American economy. Surma will be chairing the Board's winter meeting in Washington, D.C., beginning today.

Surma succeeds Ipsco Inc. President and CEO David S. Sutherland, who served as AISI Chairman throughout 2004 and will now serve as an AISI vice chairman in 2005. "John is eager to build upon Dave Sutherland's work in conveying the positive message of a new, transformed North American steel industry — positive not just for the steel industry, but for the economy and our customers," Sharkey said.

The Board also elected the following industry leaders to one-year terms as Vice Chairmen of the Institute:

• Dofasco Inc. President and CEO Donald A. Pether
• Tubos de Acero de Mexico, SA de CV Board Vice Chairman Guillermo F. Vogel H.
  
  Surma said that as the industry continues to consolidate, restructure, maximize productivity and reduce costs, "AISI will support improved and sustained profitability, which is critical to the transformation we are experiencing. That will include developing initiatives to sustain and expand new markets for steel, investing in collaborative research and development to optimize processes and educating opinion leaders on the superior performance that steel products provide."

"We will also work with other industry groups to strengthen and preserve fair trade rules and get governments out of the steel business," Surma said. "If we want a healthy industry, a reasonable return on investment and sustainable conditions, we need to let market forces work."

John P. Surma Jr. assumed his position as President and CEO of United States Steel Corp. on Oct. 1, 2004. He joined Marathon Oil Co. in 1997 as Senior Vice President—Finance & Accounting. He was appointed President of Speedway SuperAmerica LLC in 1998, and Senior Vice President—Supply & Transportation for Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP) in 2000. He was named President of MAP on Jan. 1, 2001, and assumed the position of Assistant to the Chairman of USX Corp. on Sept. 1, 2001. Effective with Marathon Oil's separation from USX, he became Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of United States Steel Corp. on Jan. 1, 2002. He was named President in March 2003.

Surma began his career at Price Waterhouse LLP in 1976 and was promoted to Manager in 1981. He served in the Manchester, England, office of the Price Waterhouse United Kingdom firm during that same year, and in 1982 returned to Pittsburgh. After a stint in Washington, D.C., where he served as Executive Staff Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, he returned to Price Waterhouse in Pittsburgh, where he rose to partner.

Surma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the International Iron and Steel Institute Board of Directors and serves on the Executive Committee. He also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable, as well as the board of Calgon Carbon Corp., the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business
Board of Visitors, and the Pennsylvania State University's Smeal College of Business Board of Visitors.

AISI is a non-profit association of North American companies engaged in the iron and steel industry. The Institute serves as the voice of the North American steel industry, speaking out on behalf of its members in the public policy arena and advancing the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 32 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.