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Cliffs Announces Management Changes

April 21, 2004 — Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced the appointment of John N. Tuomi as Vice President—Operations Services of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. In his new position, Tuomi will be responsible for corporate materials and energy procurement, operations improvement, information technology, environmental management and quality assurance.

Cliffs also announced that James A. Trethewey has been named Senior Vice President—Business Development where he will be responsible for special business development projects.

In addition, Michael P. Mlinar has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of Hibbing Taconite Co. and United Taconite, and Clifford T. Smith has been named Vice President and General Manager of Cliffs Michigan Mining Co.

Smith will begin his new assignment April 26, 2004, and the other moves will follow after appropriate transition periods. These actions reflect Cliffs' continuing emphasis on development of management personnel across the company.

Tuomi has served as General Manager at Hibbing Taconite Co. since October 2000. He had joined the company in 1996 as Assistant General Manager of Mining, Crushing and Railroad Operations at LTV Steel Mining Co., and was later named to the position of General Manager. Prior to joining LTV Steel Mining, Tuomi had been Mine Manager for the Bullmoose Mine and Superintendent of Mining at the Quintette Mine, both located in British Columbia. He was previously employed as Chief Mining Engineer at the Sherman Mine, and Mine Superintendent at the Adams Mine, Cliffs-managed mines located in Ontario. He holds a bachelor's degree in mining engineering from Queens University. He will report to Edward C. Dowling, Executive Vice President—Operations.

Trethewey has over 35 years of service in the mining industry. He joined Cliffs in 1972 from Copper Range Corp.'s White Pine Mine. His career with Cliffs began as a financial analyst in the company's former divisional headquarters in Ishpeming, Mich. He held a number of financial control positions, including Mine Controller of the former Sherman Mine in Canada, Supervisor—Financial Analysis, and Group Controller—North American Iron Ore Operations. He was elected Corporate Controller in 1986 and a Vice President in 1988. He assumed operational responsibilities in 1994 and was named Vice President—Operations Services in 1997, and then Senior Vice President—Operations Services in 1999. In 2003 he was named Senior Vice President—Operations Improvement. Trethewey received a bachelor's of science degree from Michigan Technological University and a master's degree in business administration from Baldwin Wallace College. He will report to David H. Gunning, Vice Chairman.

During his twenty-seven year career in Michigan, Mlinar has made many notable contributions to the company, most recently leading the successful combination of the Michigan operations. He began his career as a research engineer for Continental Oil Co. He joined the Tilden Mine as a mining engineer in 1977, progressing through several leadership positions including Foreman, General Foreman, Superintendent of Mining, Area Manager of Mining, and General Manager of the Tilden Mine in 1996. He was named General Manager of Cliffs Michigan Mining Co, in 2003. He holds a bachelor's of science degree in mining engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Smith has an impressive record of operational leadership in a number of management and support roles, coming to the company from Asarco, Inc. where he spent four years as Vice President and General Manager of the Tennessee Mines Division. He most recently was Corporate Director of Purchasing. Prior to these roles, Smith was Mine Manager at Southern Peru Copper Corp.'s Cuajone mine. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of operational and technical roles with AMAX Coal. He holds a bachelor's of science degree in mining engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America and sells the majority of its pellets to integrated steel companies in the United States and Canada. The company operates six iron ore mines located in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada.

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