OREANDA-NEWS. August 6, 2010. ArcelorMittal has appointed Rinat Starkov as the new CEO of OJSC "ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih". Mr. Starkov replaces Jean Jouet who has now left the company. Mr. Starkov has a strong track record of success in managing transformations and implementing successful modernization programmes at large industrial companies. His previous roles include Member of the Management Board at Mondi Business Papers responsible for the CIS, Fiber procurement and Logistics; and Managing director Mondi Syktyvkar. Mr. Starkov graduated from the Moscow Institute of International Relations with a degree in International Economy and also holds an MBA from Clemson University, USA.

Rinat Starkov, CEO, OJSC "ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih": “It is a great honor to have been appointed as ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih CEO. My priorities are to restore the company’s profitability and to continue the process of transforming it into a sustainable and competitive business. In particular, I plan to focus on increasing production volume and quality, ensuring a sustainable supply of raw materials and implementing the modernization that is required to take the company forward.”

Arnaud Poupart-Lafarge, Executive Vice President, ArcelorMittal (CIS and African countries): “ArcelorMittal is delighted to welcome Rinat Starkov as the new CEO of ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih. He has strong industrial experience and an excellent knowledge of the region, and I am confident that he will lead the company forward to a sustainable and profitable future. I would also like to thank Jean Jouet and his management team for their contribution to ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih. They led the company during one of the most challenging periods in the history of the steel sector and dealt with a number of major challenges, including the cash management issues caused by the delay in the VAT refund. Jean's achievements included launching the first CCM construction as part of the business’s investor obligations and modernization programe; increasing focus on customer needs as a factor in competitiveness; developing an ongoing dialogue with the Trade Unions; and implementing strong health and safety measures, which resulted in 15-month period with zero fatality rate. We wish Jean well for the future and we are very pleased with the strong management team he leaves in place to support Mr. Starkov."