"I'm honored to lead this team of dedicated professionals," Simon said in a statement.

"We plan to create a culture that will nurture a world-class workforce to deliver operational and commercial excellence. This, combined with our unwavering commitment to our customers, will set us apart from our competition and will ultimately drive our business growth."

Simon has more than 25 years of steel industry experience and previously oversaw Steel Dynamics Inc.’s structural and rail division. Prior to that, he was a group executive vice president at EVRAZ North America.

"We are confident that his leadership, customer-centric approach and operational discipline will help the company grow its customer base, improve efficiency, boost morale and drive profitability," said Black Diamond founder and managing principal Stephen H. Deckoff in a statement.

As chief executive, Simon will lead an operation consisting of two mini-mills, a rolling facility and three inventory depots producing steel under the name Bayou Steel Group, a nod to predecessor Bayou Steel. ArcelorMittal acquired Bayou Steel in 2008.

Bayou Steel Group's headquarters mill in LaPlace, La.,  makes light structural shapes and merchant bar products, including angles, flats, channels and beams, in affiliation with a rolling facility in Harriman, Tenn. Its other mini-mill in El Paso, Texas, makes rebar and grinding media for the mining industry.

It also has depots in Tulsa, Okla.; Chicago, Ill.; and Pittsburgh, Pa.

Simon will be joined in the executive suites by two other industry veterans: Alton Davis, who has been named president and chief operating officer, and Jim Howe, who has been named vice president of sales.

Each have 40 years of steel industry experience and each are familiar with the LaPlace mill.
Davis had served as general manager and vice president of operations there, and Howe lead the sales organization there from 2003 to 2008.