Two AK Steel Engineers Promoted as Vice Presidents
03/21/2016 - Two AK Steel Corp. veterans have been promoted to the Ohio-based steelmaker’s executive team, the company has announced.
Brian K. Bishop is now vice president of carbon steel operations and will take on responsibility for manufacturing planning. Also, Michael A. Kercsmar has been named vice president of specialty steel operations. He also will assume responsibility for quality assurance.
Both previously served as directors in their respective positions.
Bishop joined AK Steel in 1995 as a maintenance department shift manager at the Middletown Works. He rose through the ranks and eventually was named a general manager, serving at three of AK Steel’s facilities in that capacity.
In 2015, he was named director of carbon steel operations and given overall responsibility for the company's four carbon steel plants – Middletown Works, Ashland Works, Rockport Works and Dearborn Works.
He holds a bachelor’s degree metallurgical engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the Ohio State University.
Kercsmar joined AK Steel in 1997 as a shift manager at the Middletown Works cold strip mill. He, too, rose through the ranks and eventually became a general manager, serving at three of the company’s facilities in that capacity.
In 2015, he was named director of specialty steel operations and given overall responsibility for the company's four specialty steel plants – Butler Works, Mansfield Works, Coshocton Works and Zanesville Works.
Prior to joining AK Steel, he worked as a process engineer for Republic Engineered Steel. Kercsmar holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from the Ohio State University.
Both will continue to report to AK Steel president and chief operating officer Kirk W. Reich.
Both previously served as directors in their respective positions.
Bishop joined AK Steel in 1995 as a maintenance department shift manager at the Middletown Works. He rose through the ranks and eventually was named a general manager, serving at three of AK Steel’s facilities in that capacity.
In 2015, he was named director of carbon steel operations and given overall responsibility for the company's four carbon steel plants – Middletown Works, Ashland Works, Rockport Works and Dearborn Works.
He holds a bachelor’s degree metallurgical engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the Ohio State University.
Kercsmar joined AK Steel in 1997 as a shift manager at the Middletown Works cold strip mill. He, too, rose through the ranks and eventually became a general manager, serving at three of the company’s facilities in that capacity.
In 2015, he was named director of specialty steel operations and given overall responsibility for the company's four specialty steel plants – Butler Works, Mansfield Works, Coshocton Works and Zanesville Works.
Prior to joining AK Steel, he worked as a process engineer for Republic Engineered Steel. Kercsmar holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from the Ohio State University.
Both will continue to report to AK Steel president and chief operating officer Kirk W. Reich.
