Gerdau Long Steel North America, a large mini-mill steel producer, has appointed Guilherme Gerdau Johannpeter as the new president. Johannpeter will be based in Tampa, Fla. and is responsible for the business division. He is replacing Mario Longhi, who is leaving the company today. The company’s press release did not explain for what reasons Longhi is leaving. Johannpeter started with Gerdau in Brazil and has worked his way to the U.S. through several different positions. He was most recently the vice president of Gerdau Special Steel North America, the major long special steel producer to the U.S. automotive sector.

Jack Finlayson will replace Guilherme Gerdau Johannpeter at Gerdau Special Steel North America. Most recently, Finlayson held the position of vice president of operations. Johannpeter said “North America has strategic importance for the company…[and] I wish success to Guilherme and Jack in their new leadership roles. With the support and engagement of our teams, they will continue to pursue new levels of excellence in our operations in the region.”

These new appointments come only a month after Gerdau celebrated 110 years of existence by introducing a new brand and logo, differentiating between the parent company and the business operations now called Gerdau. North America’s long steel operations, previously known as Gerdau Ameristeel, are changed to Gerdau Long Steel North America. Also, the company’s special steel operations known as Gerdau Macsteel, has been changed to Gerdau Special Steel North America.

Gerdau also announced plans to “invest $320 million to expand its special bar quality steel production capacity in North America by 400,000 metric tons through 2014. Also, studies are being conducted to build a new special steel mill with an installed capacity between 700,000 and 800,000 metric tons.”

Right now, Gerdau has industrial operations worldwide with an installed capacity exceeding 25 million metric tons of steel per year.

Source: Gerdau