|
Mittal Steel South Africa News Release:
The Board of Mittal Steel South Africa today announced that Mr. Rick Reato would succeed Mr. Davinder Chugh as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mittal Steel South Africa. His appointment is effective from 15 September 2006.
Chugh, who was appointed as CEO of Mittal Steel South Africa in 2004, has been appointed on the management board of the new combined Arcelor Mittal group in Europe.
Reato, who is currently Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Mittal Steel South Africa, has been with the company for 31 years and was appointed as COO in 2005.
Mittal Steel South Africa Chairman, Mr. Khaya Ngqula, expressed his sincere appreciation and thanks to Mr. Chugh for his work as CEO of the company, saying he has been a valuable member of the Mittal Steel South Africa Board.
“During his tenure as CEO, Davinder has been instrumental in making Mittal Steel South Africa one of the world’s top steel companies. His wise counsel and leadership skills will be missed. I and my fellow board members wish him all the best in his new position.”
Ngqula welcomed the appointment of Rick Reato and says his appointment is a reflection of the depth of talent and skills at Mittal Steel South Africa.
“We place tremendous importance in developing our internal talent and leadership skills and the appointment of Rick is a reflection of not only the success of these programmes but a testament to our on-going succession planning.”
Ngqula says he and his fellow board members have the utmost confidence in Rick and have no doubt he will continue to build and add onto the foundation laid by Davinder.
Chugh congratulated Reato on his appointment saying it was a well-deserved recognition for his work. “ I have worked closely with Rick since my appointment as commercial director and later when he was appointed as my COO. During this time I have had first hand experience of his dedication and commitment in ensuring he achieves the best results for both the company and his employees. I leave the company knowing it is in safe and capable hands with Rick as CEO”
Reato said, “ Over the two years I have had a tremendous opportunity to work with Davinder as General Manager for both Vereeniging and Newcastle and then as COO. I am delighted that the board has given me this vote of confidence and together with my fellow executives and all the employees of Mittal Steel South Africa we will continue to deliver on the world class standards with which the company has become associated”. Reato wished Chugh all the best in his new position.
Reato started his career at Mittal Steel South Africa as a process control engineer and rose through the managerial ranks until he was appointed as Works Manager, Engineering, Vanderbijlpark Plant, in 1994.Over the next four years, Reato assumed various managerial positions at Vanderbijlpark including Hot Rolling, Engineering, and Environmental Management before being appointed as General Works Manager, Rolling in 1998.
As part of the re-engineering process that took place at the Flat Steel Product (FSP), it was decided to establish business units within FSP and Reato was appointed Business Unit Manager Uncoated Products in 1999 and Business Unit Manager Rolling in 2001.
As Manager of Uncoated Products, Reato was responsible for changing the business culture to a customer focus one and introduced a production planning process to support customers better.
He was then appointed General Manager of Vanderbijlpark plant in 2002 and in 2004 General Manager of Newcastle and Vereeniging plants (Long Steel Products).
During this period, Reato was instrumental in the integration, optimising and exploiting of synergies between the Newcastle and Vereeniging plants.
In other management changes announced by the company, Mr. Johan Fourie, currently General Manager, Saldanha Steel has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer effective 15 September 2006.
Fourie joined Mittal Steel South Africa in 1977. He has held various management positions at Newcastle and Vanderbijlpark and was appointed General Manager, Saldanha Steel in April 2002. He holds a BSc (Hons) Metallurgy and an MBL, Darden Executive Programme.
Mr. Heinrich Kriel, currently manager at Vanderbijlpark plant will succeed Fourie as General Manager, Saldanha Steel.
Following the resignation of Mr. Michiel Freislich, Works Manager at its Vereeniging plant, the company has reviewed the management structure of this plant and created a General Manager position. Mr. Jose Gutierrez, currently Rolling Manager at Newcastle plant has been appointed General Manager responsible for the Vereeniging plant.
For more information, please contact
Tami Didiza
General Manager Corporate Affairs
Tel: +27 16 889 2462
Fax: +27 16 889 2465
Email: [email protected]
|
|
|
|
