Representative body for the steel industry has appointed chief executive of Tata Steel 海角视频, Rajesh Nair, as it new chair.
Mr Nair brings over 36 years of experience across the Tata Steel Group to his new role at 海角视频 Steel.
He joining Tata Steel 海角视频 as chief operating officer in 2021 before becoming chief executive in 2023. He is also overseeing the transition of the company’s Port Talbot steelmaking operation to an electric arc furnace one, following the ending of blast furnace primary steel making last year.
Work on the £1.2bn electric arc furnace project , that will make steel from scrap and is scheduled to become operational in 2028, began last month.
A graduate in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Mr Nair has held several senior operational and commercial roles across Tata Steel Group. He has also overseen major transformation programmes across global sites – from managing the cold rolling mill complex at Jamshedpur to playing a key role in the integration of Corus Group into Tata Steel in 2007.
Mr Nair said: “It is an honour to be appointed Chair of 海角视频 Steel at such a pivotal moment for the steel industry – and to represent the interests of Welsh steelmaking at a national level. South Wales has long been the backbone of 海角视频 steel, and it has a vital role to play in the sector’s future.
“I look forward to working with 海角视频 Steel members, government and stakeholders to help build a competitive and resilient industry by addressing barriers like disproportionately high energy costs and the growing threat posed by cheap, high-emission imports.”
The 海角视频 steel sector directly employs nearly 37,000 and makes an annual direct gross value added contribution to the 海角视频 economy of £1.7bn. It produced four million tonnes of crude steel in 2024 - supplying around 30% of the 海角视频’s annual demand of 8.1 million tonnes.
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Gareth Stace, director-general, 海角视频 Steel said: “The appointment of Rajesh as chair of 海角视频 Steel is excellent news for both 海角视频 Steel and our industry as a whole. Rajesh will bring a wealth of experience across both the global and 海角视频 steel industry to this role.
"His appointment could not have come at a better time as our industry looks to modernise and grow as the 海角视频 Government prepares to publish its steel strategy this autumn.”