In a statement, Liberty Steel said Revansidha “Rohit” Gulve will leave his post as general manager at Liberty Steel's Georgetown wire rod plant in South Carolina for the general manager role at the larger Liberty Steel Peoria. 

Gulve led the reopening of the Georgetown plant last year and has since overseen a steady increase in production, the company said. It will now look for similar growth in Peoria, it said. 

“His new appointment signals Liberty’s intention to deliver strong growth at Peoria, also,” the company said. 

At Georgetown, Gulve will be temporarily replaced by former ArcelorMittal executive Marcio Van der Put, who has been named acting general manager. Van der Put oversaw the Georgetown mill for three years under ArcelorMittal’s ownership, leaving in 2009 for a senior post with ArcelorMittal in Brazil. He most recently served as chief technology officer for long products there. 

“In order to sustain Georgetown’s journey back to full production, we’re delighted to have gained the services of Marcio Van der Put, someone not only with a great wire rod pedigree but who also knows this plant inside out,” said Liberty Steel USA chief executive Michael Setterdahl. 

Setterdahl also said the company is looking to Gulve to grow the Peoria plant, which it acquired through its acquisition of Keystone Consolidated Industries last year. 

“We have made substantial progress since we entered the U.S. market last year, and Rohit’s skills and commitment have played a vital part in that. We’re confident he will now bring continued success and growth to Peoria and give added momentum to Liberty’s drive forward in the American steel sector,” Setterdahl said.