AISI Announces Steel Market Development Institute
08/06/2008 - The American Iron and Steel Institute announces establishment of the AISI Steel Market Development Institute, which is funded through investment from eight of North America's leading steel producers and committed to growing steel's competitive position in the North American market.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced establishment of the AISI Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) with the mission "to advance the competitive use of steel through a market-driven strategy that promotes cost effective steel based solutions."
The new Institute, which will operate as a business unit of AISI, is being funded through a direct investment from eight of North America's leading steel producers, with a strong commitment to growing steel's competitive position in the North American market.
“A strong demand for steel in the marketplace is essential to ensuring our industry's overall competitiveness," said the Chairman of the new SMDI board, J. James Kutka Jr., Senior Vice President—Strategic Planning and Business Development, United States Steel Corp. “AISI's Market Development programs have allowed us to develop a unified approach enabling the steel industry to keep pace in the global economy.”
In making the announcement, AISI President and CEO, Andrew G. Sharkey III said, "The North American steel industry is widely recognized as having a dynamic and innovative model for making steel the material of choice through market development.”
David C. Jeanes will become President of the new Steel Market Development Institute. Jeanes, who served as a Senior Vice President at AISI, brings over 30 years of steel industry research, design and marketing experience to the position. “Dave helped build the market development program into a category leader over the past 20 years, and is well qualified to lead the implementation of this new business unit,” noted Sharkey.
“As a business unit of AISI, the Steel Market Development Institute will continue to advance new steel technologies and business practices in the marketplace,” Jeanes said. “We will build on our years of success in the automotive, construction and container markets, while exploring opportunities in markets such as infrastructure and energy.”
The AISI Steel Market Development Institute will be led by a board of directors with representation from each of the eight investing companies and will report to a CEO group. The current market committees will be re-named the Automotive Applications Council, Construction Market Council and the Steel Packaging Council.
The eight companies participating in the new SMDI will be represented on the board as follows:
- United States Steel Corp.: J. James Kutka, Jr., Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Development
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco: Brian E. Aranha, Vice President Commercial
- Nucor Corp.: Richard K. Blume II, Director of Sales and Marketing
- AK Steel Corp.: Douglas W. Gant, Vice President, Sales and Customer Service
- SSAB North America Inc.: Charles Mattia, Vice President, New Business Development
- Severstal North America Inc.: Christopher J. McCarthy, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
- ArcelorMittal USA: Daniel Mull, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
- USS-POSCO Industries: Craig Peterson, Vice President, Commercial
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances 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 comprises 28 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
