"Kelly has been a valued member of the executive team at Cliffs, and I have enjoyed working with him over the past three-and-a-half years. I am sincerely grateful to Kelly for his dedication and commitment to Cliffs through a time of significant changes at the company," said chairman and chief executive Lourenco Goncalves. 

Tompkins has been with Cleveland-Cliffs since 2010 and has held several executive roles. He was named chief operating office in January 2017. 

"Over the past several years, he has been instrumental in Cliffs’ turnaround during some of the most challenging times in the iron and steel industry," the company said.