A BUSINESS NEWSLETTER FOR BLUESCOPE PEOPLE Issue 36 July / August / September 17
MARK VASSELLA APPOINTED NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO
“I’ve enjoyed 12 very tough but inspiring years at BlueScope. Working with the entire BlueScope team, and being so well supported throughout by such a strong Board, has been the greatest honour of my professional career.
2011 – present Chief Executive BlueScope Australia & New Zealand 2008 – 2011 President BlueScope North America 2007 – 2008 Chief Executive BlueScope Australian Distribution & Solutions
1999 – 2000 Group Manager Strategic Planning, Smorgon Steel Group
EARLIER CAREER • ANI Structural Steel Products Group • Palmer Tube Mills (Aust) Pty Ltd • BHP Steel Limited
“BlueScope is in a very good position, and the Board and I are confident in the strength of the internal management capability, with the support of all employees, to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. Mark will make a significant contribution as global leader of our great Company.
Speaking to employees after the announcement Paul O’Malley, Managing Director & CEO said BlueScope has always been about the team. “Obviously I’m sad to be leaving this superb team. But equally, I’m very pleased that Mark Vassella has been appointed to lead the team on the next phase of the journey.
BlueScope Steel Ltd
2000 – 2007 Chief Executive Smorgon Steel Distribution
“Mark will lead from the front, and his priority is to keep delivering on the strategy, and build on our recent performance and successes,” John said.
“He retires with the warmest thanks and best wishes of the Board and all BlueScope employees.”
SENIOR EXECUTIVE ROLES
Smorgon Steel Group
On 21 August, John Bevan, BlueScope’s Chairman announced the appointment of Mark Vassella as Managing Director & CEO from 1 January 2018, after Paul O’Malley announced his retirement effective 31 December 2017.
“Paul O’Malley has been an outstanding leader for more than ten years,” continued John. “The Company owes him a great debt of gratitude for his strength of vision and purpose as leader. His focus on safety, and on the essential turnaround and transformation of the Company in the decade after the global financial crisis showed leadership of the highest order.
ABOUT MARK VASSELLA
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Mark has led BlueScope ANZ employees through a major restructure of the business. He oversaw the return of the Australian business to profitability, and was instrumental in the 2015 decision to continue operations at Port Kembla in Australia, and at Glenbrook in New Zealand.
Mark Vassella and Paul O’Malley
“A lasting impression will be the dedication of BlueScope people to working safely and to looking after each other, to getting the job done, sometimes in the most difficult of circumstances, to being innovative in finding new ways of working, and to supporting BlueScope through thick and thin. “I believe our customers, our employees, the communities in which we operate, and shareholders can feel confident about the future. “Please join me in congratulating Mark on his appointment, and continue to offer him the same strong levels of support that you have always shown to me over the last ten years,” concluded Paul.
WELCOME
Mark also oversaw a $100 million investment in the next generation ZINCALUME® and COLORBOND® steels coated product technologies, and a $500 million reduction in working capital. He has run all BlueScope’s buildings businesses in North America, leading the integration of the IMSA Corporation businesses, which included Steelscape, ASC Profiles and VP Buildings, and sat on the Board of North Star BlueScope Steel in Delta, Ohio. He led a major rationalisation of the North American business through the economic downturn flowing from the global financial crisis.
EDUCATION • Bachelor of Commerce, University of Newcastle • Master of Business Administration, University of Queensland
IN THIS ISSUE 02 Building a Bright Future
05 What the market said
03 See, Say, Do
06 Enviro win for COLORSTEEL®
04 FY2017 Financial Results
07 Our communities are our homes