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U. S. Steel Announces Retirement of Senior Vice President

02/19/2008 - John J. Connelly, U. S. Steel’s Senior Vice President—Strategic Planning and Business Development, will retire at the end of February following more than 37 years of service to the company.

United States Steel Corp. Chairman and CEO John P. Surma announced that John J. Connelly, Senior Vice President—Strategic Planning and Business Development, has elected to retire at the end of February following more than 37 years of service to the company. Surma said the company’s strategic planning and business development team would continue to work closely with the executive management team until a successor is determined.
 
"John Connelly has made many outstanding contributions to the growth and development of our company throughout his career at U. S. Steel," Surma said. "His leadership was instrumental in our acquisition of National Steel in 2003, our very successful entry into Europe, and most recently in the acquisitions of Lone Star Technologies, Inc. and Stelco Inc.”
 
“While we accept the news of his retirement with regret,” said Surma, “we thank him for his many years of distinguished service and extend our very best wishes to John and his family.”
 
Connelly, 61, began his career in the commercial department of U. S. Steel International in New York in 1971 as a Management Trainee. Over the next seventeen years, he progressed through increasingly responsible positions at U. S. Steel International and U. S. Steel's commercial, marketing and tubular products departments.
 
In 1988, Connelly was promoted to Vice President of United States Steel International, and in 1989 was elected President, a position he held until 1999. During that time, he also assumed the additional role of Vice President—International Business in 1994, and served as President of USX Engineers and Consultants from 1994 to 1996.
 
Connelly was named Vice President—Long Range Planning and International Business in 1999, and in 2001, he was named Vice President—Business Development and Long Range Planning. He was named Vice President—Strategic Planning and Business Development in 2002, and Senior Vice President—Strategic Planning and Business Development in 2004.
 
Connelly graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in African Affairs. He has been a long-time member of the American Iron and Steel Institute, has been active with the International Iron and Steel Institute, and serves on the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. Connelly previously served on the board of directors for Duquesne University, where he held the role of board chairman for seven years. He was also instrumental in implementing new professional standards, including term limits, for directors while chairman.
 
United States Steel is an integrated steel producer with production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company has an annual raw steel production capability of 24.3 million net tons in North America and 7.4 million net tons in Central Europe. U. S. Steel is also engaged in several other business activities, including the production of iron ore pellets and coke; transportation services including railroad and barge operations; and real estate operations.