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SSAB Rolls out New Name, New Leadership for North American Operations
06/16/2008 - Following completion of the sale of Ipsco Canada assets to Evraz Group, SSAB Svenskt Stal is rolling out a new corporate name and a new senior leadership team for former Ipsco steel production facilities in Mobile, Ala., and Montpelier, Iowa, plus cut-to-length lines in Houston, Texas; St. Paul, Minn.; and Toronto, Ont.
Following completion of the sale of the Ipsco Canada assets to Evraz Group SA, SSAB Svenskt Stal AB is rolling out a new corporate name for its six remaining North American production sites, effective immediately. The name change to SSAB North American Division (NAD), which will remain headquartered in Lisle, Ill., will impact former Ipsco steel production facilities in Mobile, Ala., and Montpelier, Iowa, plus cut-to-length lines in Houston, Texas; St. Paul, Minn.; and Toronto, Ont.
SSAB’s new North American Division will be led by David Britten, who has been appointed President, taking over from John Tulloch who had previously announced he would retire with the close of the divesture of its North American tubular operations. In his new role, Britten will also serve as an Executive Vice President of SSAB and as a member of the company's Group Management.
The SSAB North American Division senior management team also includes Paul Wilson as Vice President, Operations. Reporting to David Britten, Wilson will be responsible for the division’s primary steel business in the United States. With 36 years in the steel industry, Wilson brings an extensive depth of knowledge and experience to the management team in this key business unit operational role. He previously served as Plant Manager at the Alabama Steelworks, and has been with the company since 1998.
The new division’s senior management team also includes Steve Hansen as Vice President, Chief Technical Officer. In his position, Hansen continues to have overall responsibility for the division’s technical services organization, including the quality assurance, product development, customer technical support, environmental affairs and continuous improvement activities. He also will be responsible for development of an SSAB North American Division research and development organization and program. Hansen joined the organization in 2003, following a career in the integrated sector of the steel business.
Additional members of the senior management team for the SSAB North American Division include Michele Klebuc-Simes as Vice President, General Counsel & Communications; Larry Schnurbusch as Vice President, Operations Services; Steve Morrison as Vice President, Administration & Trade; and Phil Marusarz as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Rounding out the team are John Carroll, Vice President, Human Resources & Security, Group Director of Safety; Tim Wensits, Vice President, Chief Information Officer; and Dan Miksta, Vice President, General Sales Manager.
“While we look forward to making a new name for ourselves in North America, we are still committed to our core values,” said SSAB NAD President, David Britten. “SSAB in North America will carry on the tradition of being a reliable supplier, a trusted employer and a good corporate citizen in the communities in which we operate.”
In addition to continued responsibility for the North American Division’s corporate legal function. Klebuc-Simes will also be responsible for the Communication and Government Relations functions. She joined the company in 2001.
In his new role, Schnurbusch will be responsible for the division's corporate logistics and procurement functions, including scrap sourcing, energy, and transportation services. He joined the company in 1999 in the corporate purchasing area and brings 40 years of experience in the steel industry.
In his new role, Morrison will be responsible for the division's overall production planning, scheduling, sales administration and trade policy functions. He joined the company in 1984 and has had a series of positions, including leadership roles in inventory and production planning, and information technology.
In his role that was announced last summer (2007) Marusarz will continue to be responsible for the division's accounting and financial management functions. He joined Ipsco in 2001 as Treasurer, following senior financial positions in both public and private companies. Prior to his officer appointment, he served as the Corporate Controller.
In his role as Chief HR Officer, Carroll will be responsible for all HR functions for North American operations, with the additional responsibility of managing SSAB's loss prevention efforts globally. Carroll brings 30 years of steel industry safety, health and management experience. He joined the company in 2002 serving as Director of Corporate Safety & Security.
Continuing in his role as Chief Information Officer, Wensits will have overall responsibility for IT throughout SSAB. Prior to joining the company in early 2007, Wensits had worked 26 years in the IT industry serving in positions in both the USA and Australia.
Miksta will continue to oversee the sales management function for the division's plate and coil products. Joining the organization in 2000, Miksta has 37 years of sales experience with major integrated steelmakers.
SSAB, a global niche producer of high strength steel with a leading market position and productivity, develops solutions in order to increase the competitiveness of its customers.
