WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today establishment of the AISI Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) with the mission "to advance the competitive use of steel through a market-driven strategy that promotes cost effective steel based solutions." The new Institute, which will operate as a business unit of AISI, is being funded through a direct investment from eight of North America's leading steel producers with a strong commitment to growing steel's competitive position in the North American market. "A strong demand for steel in the marketplace is essential to ensuring our industry's overall competitiveness. AISI's Market Development programs have allowed us to develop a unified approach enabling the steel industry to keep pace in the global economy," said the chairman of the new SMDI board, J. James Kutka, Jr., senior vice president - Strategic Planning and Business Development, United States Steel Corporation.
In making the announcement today, Andrew G. Sharkey III, AISI president and CEO, said, "The North American steel industry is widely recognized as having a dynamic and innovative model for making steel the material of choice through market development." He went on to say, "Our aggressive approach to pro-competitive collaboration between steel producers and customers is providing value to our members in the form of steel solutions in the marketplace. It also reflects strategic direction resulting from the AISI Visioning Project, which led to the Institute's heightened focus on a robust policy agenda, while also recognizing the importance of advancing steel as the material of choice."
Sharkey also announced that David C. Jeanes will become President of the new Steel Market Development Institute, noting that "Dave helped build the market development program into a category leader over the past 20 years, and is well qualified to lead the implementation of this new business unit." Jeanes, who served as a senior vice president at AISI, brings over 30 years of steel industry research, design and marketing experience to the position.
"As a business unit of AISI, the Steel Market Development Institute will continue to advance new steel technologies and business practices in the marketplace," Jeanes said. "We will build on our years of success in the automotive, construction and container markets, while exploring opportunities in markets such as infrastructure and energy." He also noted that under the new business model, "programs are being implemented which will further enhance the value to the investing companies through advanced access to market updates, program developments and business opportunities."
The AISI Steel Market Development Institute will be led by a board of directors with representation from each of the eight investing companies and will report to a CEO group. The current market committees will be re-named the Automotive Applications Council, Construction Market Council and the Steel Packaging Council.
"The launch of the Steel Market Development Institute signals a new level of commitment by the steel industry to advance leading edge technologies and steel's focus on future market opportunities. This will help protect the significant investment we all have made in the production of today's world class steel products," Kutka reported. The eight companies participating in the new SMDI and their board representatives are as follows:
-- United States Steel Corporation: J. James Kutka, Jr. - Senior Vice
President, Strategic Planning and Business Development
-- ArcelorMittal Dofasco: Brian E. Aranha, Vice President Commercial;
-- Nucor Corporation: Richard K. Blume, II, Director of Sales and
Marketing;
-- AK Steel Corporation: Douglas W. Gant, Vice President, Sales and
Customer Service;
-- SSAB North America Inc.: Charles Mattia, Vice President, New Business
Development;
-- Severstal North America Inc.: Christopher J. McCarthy, Vice President,
Sales and Marketing;
-- ArcelorMittal USA: Daniel Mull, Executive Vice President of Sales and
Marketing; and
-- USS-POSCO Industries: Craig Peterson, Vice President, Commercial.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 28 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent over 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI's Web site at www.steel.org.