Economy

ArcelorMittal USA Michael Rippey Awarded 2014 Steel Man of the Year

March 19, 2015

CHICAGO — The Association of Steel Distributors (ASD) is proud to announce the 2014 recipient of the Steel Man of the Year Award is Michael G. Rippey, chairman of ArcelorMittal USA in Chicago, Illinois. The industry’s highest honor, this annual ASD award recognizes one individual who embodies leadership, dedication, service and excellence in the steel industry. Rippey will be officially recognized at a black tie event taking place at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells in Indian Wells, California, during the 2015 ASD Spring Convention held April 23-25.

Rippey leads ArcelorMittal USA’s flat carbon operations, comprising 17 facilities in nine states and including mines, integrated steelmaking facilities and finishing mills capable of producing light flat-rolled and plate products. The company’s U.S. flat carbon operations employs more than 16,000 people and serves as a vital component of the company’s global footprint.

Rippey has also served as president and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal USA from August 2006 through October 2014. In that role, he was responsible for sales and marketing, operations, finance, procurement, human resources and legal. When the company merged to create ArcelorMittal in mid-2007, Rippey provided critical leadership to integrate U.S. facilities including flat and plate steel operations. He also led the February 2014 joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metals Corporation to acquire the world’s most modern steel finishing facility, AM/NS Calvert located in Calvert, Alabama. Finally, Rippey also served on the ArcelorMittal Global Management Committee.

Rippey began his career with Inland Steel in 1984. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University; a master’s degree in banking and finance from Loyola University, Chicago; and his MBA from the University of Chicago. He is active in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana communities, serving as a governing trustee for Children’s Home + Aid and member of its finance and audit committee. Rippey also serves on the board of directors for the American Iron & Steel Institute, in addition to serving as chairman of both the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. He also is a member of the dean’s council and an alumni fellow at Indiana University. (Source: ASD Press Release)