Optima Specialty Steel Announces Planned Executive Changes
03/19/2013 - Optima Specialty Steel, Inc., one of North America’s independent manufacturers of specialty steel products including cold drawn seamless tubes, cold finished steel bars and hot rolled steel bars, announced planned transitions in executive and Board leadership.
Optima Specialty Steel, Inc., one of North America’s independent manufacturers of specialty steel products including cold drawn seamless tubes, cold finished steel bars and hot rolled steel bars, announced planned transitions in executive and Board leadership.
Effective 29 March 2013, Kevin Stevick will resign as chief executive officer of Optima. Mr. Stevick has also resigned from Optima’s Board of Directors effective as of 8 March 2013. The Optima Board has begun the process of identifying a candidate to fill the director vacancy created by Mr. Stevick’s resignation. In addition, Frank Archer, president of Niagara LaSalle Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Optima, will retire on 29 March 2013. Optima's Board of Directors has appointed Mordechai Korf, current chairman of the Board of Optima, as its new chief executive officer.
Commenting on the changes in management and Optima’s strategic direction, Mr. Korf stated, “I would like to thank Kevin and Frank for their hard work, dedication and service during their tenures at Niagara and Optima. Both men are consummate professionals who have made significant contributions to the organization’s success. As we anticipated these changes for some time, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure a seamless transition and sustained growth. We have a deep and experienced management team in place to lead Optima into the future.”
Mr. Stevick commented, “After seven rewarding years helping lead Optima and Niagara, it is time for me to make a change as the organization embarks on its next chapter of growth. I will miss the outstanding, talented group of individuals who made my tenure so enjoyable, and I wish them nothing but the best. Optima and Niagara are in great hands and will continue to be a leading force in specialty steel offerings.”
Mr. Archer noted, “I have been fortunate to work at Niagara LaSalle for almost 30 years and it has been personally and professionally rewarding to contribute to the company’s immense success. I look forward to continuing to serve as a consultant to support the transition of responsibilities. After a long and satisfying career, I look forward to retirement and spending more time with my wife and family.”
Optima Specialty Steel, Inc., headquartered in Miami, Fla., is one of North America’s leading independent manufacturers of specialty steel products including cold drawn seamless tubes, cold finished steel bars and hot rolled steel bars. As a steel processing specialist, the organization leverages its technical expertise, skilled workforce and sophisticated equipment to produce highly engineered products including pressure-carbon, pressure-alloy, mechanical-carbon and mechanical-alloy tubing and specialty bars that meet its clients’ exact order specifications. Optima Specialty Steel is operated by its three wholly-owned subsidiaries: South Lyon, Mich.-based Michigan Seamless Tube, LLC; Hammond, Ind.-based Niagara LaSalle Corporation; and Ashland, Ky.-based Kentucky Electric Steel.
Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Hammond, Ind., Niagara LaSalle is North America’s largest independent producer of cold finished steel bars. Operating eight facilities located throughout the United States, the company’s robust production capacity allows it to manufacture cold finished steel bars in a wide range of sizes, shapes, grades, finishes, and tolerances. With a century’s worth of experience in innovation and engineering excellence, Niagara LaSalle is able to quickly process highly specialized orders that meet its clients’ exact specifications. The company’s unparalleled flexibility, rigorous testing requirements, competitive pricing and logistical capabilities have allowed it to become the nation’s premier supplier of high-quality cold finished steel bars. Niagara LaSalle is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Miami-based Optima Specialty Steel, Inc.
