The International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) has announced the change of its name to World Steel Association (worldsteel), with immediate effect.
Speaking at the association's annual conference, Director General Ian Christmas said, "Since we were formed in 1967 the world for steel has substantially changed and so has this organization. We are now a truly global body representing 18 of the world's 20 largest steel companies, including six of the top 10 producers in China."
According to worldsteel, which is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world representing approximately 180 steel producers (including 18 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), the new name provides a simple description of their role and clarity to their purpose.
Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal CEO Lakshmi Niwas Mittal has been elected chairman of worldsteel till October 2009.
The following have been elected as the new vice chairmen of worldsteel: Ku-Taek Lee, chairman and CEO of POSCO; Paolo Rocca, chairman and CEO of Techint Group; and John Surma, chairman and CEO of US Steel.
Besides Lakshmi Mittal, the 2008/2009 worldsteel executive committee includes: Hajime Bada, JFE Steel Corporation; Daniel DiMicco, Nucor Corporation; Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter, Gerdau SA; Karl-Ulrich Köhler, ThyssenKrupp AG; Ku-Taek Lee, POSCO; Alexey Mordashov, Severstal JSC; Shoji Muneoka, Nippon Steel Corporation; M. Aydin Müderrisoglu, Erdemir; Paolo Rocca, Techint Group; John Surma, US Steel Corporation; Sakari Tamminen, Rautaruukki Oyj, Philippe Varin, Corus Group; Lejiang Xu, Baosteel Group; Xiaogang Zhang, Anshan Iron & Steel Corporation; Ian Christmas, World Steel Association.