Worldsteel Elects Nucor’s Topalian as New Chairman

Topalian, who last year served as vice-chairman of the board of Brussels-based worldsteel, takes the helm from Jeong-Woo Choi, CEO of South Korea’s Posco.

The vice-chairman positions will be held by Jeong-Woo Choi and CEO and managing director of India’s Tata Steel, Thachat Viswanath Narendran. Mark Vassella, CEO and managing director of Australia’s BlueScope Steel, will continue to serve as treasurer.

Timoteo Di Maulo, CEO of Luxembourg-based stainless and specialty producer Aperam, was again elected chairman of worldstainless.

Those elected to worldsteel’s executive board of directors hold office for one year.

Members of worldsteel represent about 85% of global steel production. The association maintains relationships with many international organizations, including the United Nations and the OECD.

The Steelie Awards

Each year, worldsteel gives out ‘The Steelie Awards,’ recognizing member companies’ contributions to the steel industry. Two companies with operations in North America walked away with awards this year.

Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel was awarded “Innovation of the year” for its development of a high-strength, high-formable, lean, single-phase, nano-precipitation strengthened sheet steel for automotive applications with a minimum tensile strength of 780MPa.

Ternium, headquartered in Luxembourg but with operations in Louisiana, Mexico and Latin America, was recognized for excellence in education and training.