JSW Steel USA welcomes new CEO

JSW Steel, part of the Mumbai-based JSW Group conglomerate, has appointed Robert Simon as the CEO of JSW USA, based in Baytown, Texas.

In his new role, Simon will lead that business, which consists of steel slab, coil, pipe and plate production and sales in Baytown and at a recycled-content electric arc furnace (EAF) mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio.

Simon, who has metals industry experience at several other firms, will report to the respective boards of JSW Steel in Texas and in Mumbai.

Simon began his career as a production manager and then general manager with Oregon Brass Works, which operated in Portland, Oregon, until 1998. He then held several positions at Evraz North America’s Rocky Mountain Steel Mills site in Pueblo, Colorado, rising to vice president and general manager and then executive vice president of the company’s Tubular Division.

Next, Simon worked at Fort Wayne, Indiana-based EAF steelmaker Steel Dynamics Inc. as vice president of structural products. Following that, he accepted the position of CEO of the Louisiana-based Bayou Steel Group and then performed consulting work.

He also has served on the executive committee and as board chair of the Washington-based Steel Manufacturers Association and as a board member of the American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago.

“Rob Simon is a natural leader and passionate about working in environments where core values drive his team members to realize their potential,” says Parth Jindal, a director with JSW USA.

“I am confident that his vast experience in improving and managing businesses throughout the steel industry will help us scale JSW USA to newer heights in achieving our purpose in making high-quality steel products that are made and melted in America. I am delighted to have Rob on board and confident that he will take JSW USA to the next level of growth.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the JSW team and [to have] the opportunity to contribute to its legacy of excellence," Simon says. "JSW’s unwavering dedication to safety, genuine appreciation for the workforce and industry leadership in sustainability are values that resonate deeply with me.

“I look forward to working closely with our talented team, to live these values and aggressively pursue our mission to deliver top-quality steel products that are melted and manufactured in the U.S.A.”

JSW Steel is the flagship business of the diversified $23 billion JSW Group. That conglomerate also has operations tied to the energy, infrastructure, cement, paint, sports, defense, e-commerce and venture capital sectors.

“We have built a resilient business in the United States with a clear focus on enhancing productivity and operational efficiencies,” says Jayant Acharya, joint managing director and CEO of JSW Steel. “Rob joins us at a crucial time as we continue to upgrade JSW USA operations. I am confident that his vast experience and expertise will enable us to serve our customers with high-quality products in a very efficient manner.”