worldsteel appoints new Director General

The worldsteel Board of Directors formally approved the appointment of Edwin Basson as Director General of the World Steel Association, effective from August 2011.

Edwin Basson (51) joined the steel industry in 1994 and has held various positions at world leading steel companies. At Iscor Ltd, he started as Chief Economist and later managed coated products and flat steel products, before moving on to Strategic Initiatives. From 2004 to 2006, he was responsible for Marketing Strategy and Commercial Research & Market Segmentation at Mittal Steel (now ArcelorMittal). He joined worldsteel from ArcelorMittal where he held the position of Vice President, Commercial Co-ordination, Marketing and Trade Policy.

Director General Designate Edwin Basson said,” I am honoured to have been invited to accept this role. Steel touches every aspect of people’s lives and as such is one of today’s most fundamental industrial sectors. Sustainable development in the next half century will be impossible without steel. I am excited about joining and contributing to the strong team at worldsteel.”

The Chairman of worldsteel Hajime Bada said,” I am delighted to welcome Edwin on behalf of the Board of Directors of worldsteel. He has excellent knowledge of the steel industry and of the strategic issues facing us globally. He is already well known to us all from his involvement as a former Chairman of the worldsteel Economics Committee and as ArcelorMittal’s representative on the Living Steel Consortium”.

Director General Ian Christmas said,” I am very pleased that Edwin Basson is going to lead worldsteel and represent the global steel industry. I am very confident that not only will worldsteel be in very safe hands but it will continue to grow in value and relevance for its members all around the world”. Ian Christmas has represented the association for the past 12 years as Director General and will retire in August this year.

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Notes to Editors

• The monthly crude steel capacity utilisation ratio is calculated based on crude steel production and capacity information available at worldsteel. The capacity information is based on publicly-available data, updated twice a year and verified through worldsteel’s membership.
• The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. worldsteel represents approximately 170 steel producers (including 18 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. worldsteel members produce around 85% of the world's steel.

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