Xijun Cao named British Steel CEO

British Steel President Xijun Cao will assume the additional role of CEO in early April, replacing Ron Deelen who stepped down at the end of March, although he will continue to work closely with the business.

“I’m honored to be leading the next stage of British Steel’s transformation and look forward to helping my colleagues build on their achievements during the last 12 months,” Xijun Cao stated.

In March last year China’s Jingye Group bought British Steel pledging a GBP 1.2 billion ($1.53 billion) investment to modernize the mill. The steelmaker is the second largest UK steel producer with a crude steel capacity of about 3 million mt/year. The company makes more than 1,450 specifications of long steel products including wire rod, sections, special profiles and rail. The headquarters are at the integrated steelworks in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, where there are four blast furnaces, two of which are currently operative.

Recently the company stated that its investing GBP 100 million this year to improve manufacturing and environmental performance. The company with this fresh investment will help finance a new billet caster, a scrap pre-heating facility, cranes and a new environmental emission control system.

Since the acquisition British Steel went back in black and launched new products, introduced 24-7 operations at its Teesside and Skinningrove mills and resumed operational control of Immingham Bulk Terminal.

— Annalisa Villa