Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. announced the appointment of Don Hamaker to the newly created position of President of its Metals Recycling Business, and a Vice President of Schnitzer Steel Industries.

In his new position, Hamaker will have lead responsibilities for all Schnitzer scrap metal recycling facilities. In addition to Schnitzer's eleven wholly owned west coast yards, this will also cover seven facilities in New England that formerly were part of the Hugo Neu Schnitzer joint venture operations. Hamaker will also assume leadership of all future metals recycling business segment acquisitions as Schnitzer continues its growth strategy.

Hamaker is known in the scrap metal industry, with almost twenty years experience in scrap management positions at Hugo Neu Corp., where he has served as President since 1999. As President of HNC, Hamaker oversaw all company operations.

"I'm extremely pleased to have Don join Schnitzer's management team," said John D. Carter, Schnitzer's President and CEO. "Don brings a depth of industry experience and strategic thinking that will be helpful to us as we not only manage our existing operations, but plan and implement the company's growth focus."

Hamaker is a graduate of Northwestern University and Georgetown University Law Center.

Schnitzer also announced that Pat Christopher, would also be joining the company as Vice President of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., with responsibility for Schnitzer's newly acquired east coast metals recycling facilities, including those which will be acquired as a result of the separation from Hugo Neu Corporation.

"We are fortunate to have the operational capabilities of Pat available to us, which will be invaluable as we add the new east coast recycling facilities to our portfolio after the separation of our joint ventures with Hugo Neu. Pat's experience and technical depth in our business is well known," said Carter.

Christopher has fifteen years of scrap metal operations experience, including Vice President of Operations for Hugo Neu Corp. He is a graduate of SUNY Maritime Academy, Fort Schuyler.

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. is one of the nation's largest recyclers of ferrous metals, a leading self service used auto parts retailer with 30 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and a manufacturer of finished steel products. The company, with its joint venture partners, processes approximately 5.2 million tons of recycled ferrous metals per year as well as brokers nearly 3 million tons through various brokerage arrangements. In addition, the company's electric arc furnace has an annual production capacity of approximately 700,000 tons of finished steel products. The company and its joint venture partners operate primarily along the West Coast and Northeastern seaboard of the U.S.