OREANDA-NEWS. February 02, 2011. Evraz Group S.A. (LSE: EVR) announces recent management changes at Evraz Palini e Bertoli S.p.a., its Italian plate-rolling facility. The most recent development of Evraz Group strategy towards lean manufacturing and centralization of some key Company functions narrowed the role of CEO that will no longer be required. Instead a position of General Manager of Evraz Palini e Bertoli has been created.

Subsequently Nicola Lemetti, Evraz Palini e Bertoli CEO, has stepped down from his role. “Evraz was privileged to have Mr. Lemetti leading our Italian asset in the recent years” – says Pavel Tatyanin, Senior Vice President, Head of International Business, Evraz Group. – “I would like to thank him for the tremendous contribution to Evraz Palini e Bertoli operations over the past years that resulted in a series of important developments like significant quality and profitability improvements as well as financial results well above the budget, gaining IPPC and OHSAS certifications, achieving zero LTIFR (Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate). Thanks to his leadership our Italian business operated full steam in the difficult times of the economic meltdown while remaining profitable. I wish Nicola all the best in his future career”.

Roberto Bissacco, Mill Operations Director of EPB, has been promoted to become a General Manager of Evraz Palini e Bertoli effective February 1, 2011. In his new role Mr. Bissacco will retain the position of the Mill Operations Director.

Mr. Bissacco has over 27 years of steel industry experience since obtaining his engineering degree in 1983. Prior to joining Evraz Palini e Bertoli he spent over 4 years as a COO at Acciaierie Bertoli Safau and moved to Palini e Bertoli in 2006. In 2007 he was appointed Mill Operations Director.