Features

Metallus names Westbrooks and Zaranec to new exec roles

Written by Ethan Bernard

May 22, 2025

Metallus has promoted Kristopher R. Westbrooks to the newly created role of president and COO, and John M. Zaranec III has been appointed to the role of EVP and CFO, effective June 16.

The specialty steelmaker, based in Canton, Ohio, said both executives will report directly to CEO Mike Williams.

Westbrooks has served as the company’s CFO since September 2018.

“Over the past seven years, Kris has played an instrumental role in our company’s growth, consistently providing outstanding leadership and strategic guidance,” Williams said in a statement on Tuesday.

In his new role, Westbrooks will lead Metallus’ “safety, manufacturing operations and excellence, and supply chain organizations.”

Meanwhile, Zaranec has over 20 years of financial experience and skills in the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

He most recently served as division CFO at Materion Corp., an advanced materials company based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. There he led the finance strategy and function for the Performance Materials segment.

“We are excited to welcome John to Metallus,” Williams said. “We are confident he will play a key role in our continued success.”

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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