The Federal Metal Co. adds chief commercial officer

The Federal Metal Co. has added Brady Bird as chief commercial officer of its FedMet business unit dedicated to processing aluminum copper radiators (ACRs) at facilities in Arkansas and Ohio.

Formerly with S.I.C. Recycling, Bird served as the company’s president from its inception in 2011 until February 2024. He also held the CEO role at S.I.C., which is based in Illinois, starting in 2021.

Bird's industry volunteer service includes serving as president of the Mid-America chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, now the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA).

Before joining the recycling industry, he spent seven years as a vice president in Middle Market Commercial Banking at JP Morgan Chase.

Bird holds his bachelor’s degree in science and an MBA from the University of Colorado Boulder.

In 2019, The Federal Metal Co. began processing ACRs to supply its brass and bronze ingot-making operations with high-quality copper and provide mills with high-purity direct melt aluminum to help lower their metal costs. Last year, the company invested $17.6 million to establish FedMet Arkansas LLC, a state-of-the-art processing operation in North Little Rock that is capable of recycling more than 3,000 metric tons per month of postconsumer ACRs.

“We are excited to welcome Brady to the team, particularly as the demand for recycled aluminum and copper is increasing significantly,” says Peter Nagusky, president and CEO of The Federal Metal Co., headquartered in Bedford, Ohio. “Brady is uniquely positioned to accelerate the scaling of our volumes to meet the market need and further position us as a strategic partner to mill customers and a preferred consumer to scrap suppliers.

"We have been fully operational at FedMet Arkansas less than a year but already the quality of our end products is exceptional. Our aluminum and copper customers want increased quantities over the next several years, and Brady’s leadership abilities and track record speak for itself. I’m confident he will help us assure the necessary supply of raw materials as our appetite grows and provide even more value to our customers.”

Bird will be responsible for developing and implementing FedMet’s sales and purchasing strategies, managing several key customer and supplier relationships and playing a pivotal role on the executive team.

“FedMet has incredible growth potential,” Bird says. “From the design of their operations to their focus on quality and the strategic vision of leadership, this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m very proud to be part of the Federal Metal team.”