ArcelorMittal announces changes at the top

Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal has announced two changes to top officer posts at the company.

The company announced in early March 2018 that Aditya Mittal, group chief financial officer (CFO) and CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe, had been appointed as president of ArcelorMittal, adding to his current responsibilities. “This nomination reflects the increasing global strategic role Aditya has across the group, supporting the Chairman and CEO, Lakshmi Mittal,” the company stated in a news release.

“Aditya has proved himself an effective and accomplished manager as Group CFO and CEO of our European operations, delivering results and creating value for the company,” remarks Lakshmi Mittal. “He will continue to work with me in shaping the future strategic direction of the group.”

As president and CFO, Aditya Mittal will continue to report to his father Lakshmi, the chairman and CEO.

The same day Aditya Mittal’s promotion was announced, so too was the retirement of Henri Blaffart, who had been serving as an executive officer and executive vice president of ArcelorMittal.

The 63-year-old Blaffart will retire from his duties as a member of the management committee and as head of human resources (HR) and corporate services on at the end of March 2018.

Blaffart joined an ArcelorMittal predecessor company in 1978 as a civil engineer in charge of product development, before joining the University of Liege in Belgium to lead on research projects. By 1982, he returned to an ArcelorMittal predecessor company, joining Metal Profil Belgium.

After a series of promotions, in 2013 Blaffart accepted a position as the group’s head of HR and a seat on the group management committee. The following year, he took over additional responsibilities for corporate services including legal, communications, corporate responsibility, capital goods, purchasing, shipping and IT. Blaffart was also appointed Chairman of ArcelorMittal Tubular Jubail and a Board Member of ArcelorMittal South Africa.

Blaffart’s position as executive vice president and head of human resources will be assumed by Bart Wille, who recently joined the group from Bekaert, a steel wire transformation and coatings business. Wille also has been nominated as executive officer.

“Henri has been a much-valued member of our senior management team,” comments Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal. “He has given tremendous service to the company, led many challenging projects and made a considerable contribution to the company’s performance. In Bart, we have found an excellent, highly experienced HR executive to lead this important strategic function and continue the good work of Henri and the team.”