The NLMK Group, an international steelmaking company with operations in Russia, the U.S., and the E.U. member-states, announced the appointment of Renaud Moretti as the CEO of NLMK Europe Strip, the division that includes NLMK La Louviere, NLMK Strasbourg, and the service center NLMK Manage.

The division was previously managed by Ben de Vos, who is now holding the position of CEO of NLMK International, the company that manages the NLMK Group’s international operations.

Renaud Moretti, currently the COO of NLMK Europe Strip, will assume the position of the CEO on January 1, 2017.

The chairman of NLMK International management board Ben de Vos said, “Renaud Moretti’s vast production experience will ensure that the work on improving and increasing the operational efficiency at NLMK Europe that is already yielding solid results will continue. The division’s labor productivity over the last five years increased by 70 percent, while costs were cut by 20 percent. We wish Renaud Moretti every success in his new capacity.”

Renaud Moretti began his career in steelmaking in 2002 as head of the maintenance service at the galvanizing line and the cold-rolling mill at Corus Myriad. He became head of maintenance service at La Louviere in 2006, which at the time was part of the NLMK and Duferco JV. He later managed cold-rolling operations and was executive director at NLMK La Louviere.