Straightline Makes Executive Appointments

In keeping with the company's 2003 growth strategy, Straightline Source, a division of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X), has implemented key changes to its senior leadership team, adding two directors with a combined 40 years experience in the steel industry.

David Mitch has joined Straightline as director, strategic sourcing. Mitch's position has been created in response to Straightline's growth and the associated significance of material planning and acquisition as well as processing sourcing. Among Mitch's first priorities will be to build on Straightline's existing relationships with both integrated mills and mini mills, and to continue development of new sourcing relationships.

Additionally, George Thompson has been named director, commercial, succeeding Bob Trotter, who has left the company to pursue other interests. Thompson's primary focus will be to grow and expand customer relationships in all of the regions in which Straightline operates today.

In conjunction with the new appointments, Straightline announced that Phil Tomasetti, Straightline's director of information technology, is returning to U. S. Steel.

"Having achieved tremendous growth and established a solid foundation in our first full year, we are refining our organization not only to execute on our expanding level of business but also to adjust our team to achieve our ambitious goals for the future," said Robert H. R. Dryburgh, president. "We are especially pleased to have the talents of David Mitch and George Thompson to help lead our organization to profitable growth."

Dan Pavlick, managing director of strategy and information, said of Tomasetti, "Phil played a pivotal role establishing our technology backbone by integrating U. S. Steel's information systems with new logistics and supply chain systems."

Launched late in 2001, Straightline is the country's fastest-growing steel distribution business, serving customers of all sizes through a network of processing, supply and logistics partners, linked together on a single technology platform.

Directors Bring Extensive Industry Experience

Mitch has an extensive background in metals, having 17 years of experience with the former Armco Steel Company and, more recently, 10 years of executive level positions at various Copperweld facilities. Most recently, he served as executive vice president for Copperweld Tubular Products where he established and led manufacturing and technological businesses and helped the company achieve significant improvements in profitability.

As director of strategic sourcing, Mitch oversees the management of Straightline's steel procurement, material requirements planning and distribution to processor partners, as well as the ongoing relationships with processor partners.

Thompson joins Straightline from U. S. Steel where he had more than 15 years experience in various commercial sales positions from tubular to flat roll and most recently as the National Sales & Marketing Manager for the Appliance Group based in Pittsburgh. Under Thompson's leadership of the Appliance Group, U. S. Steel experienced remarkable growth, increasing appliance segment market share by more than 10 percent.

In his new position, Thompson oversees sales activities of Straightline's district sales personnel across the 34 states in which Straightline operates. Thompson also has responsibility for contract administration, market planning and Straightline Direct™, the company's 24 x 7 inside sales and service group.

Straightline Source is a division of United States Steel Corporation specializing in the distribution of carbon flat-rolled steel to customers of all sizes through advanced technology systems and a network of processing partners. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Straightline has a growing staff of 160 employees. Visit Straightline at www.straightline.com

SOURCE: Straightline Source

CONTACT: Maggie Bray, Magnet Communications, +1-412-456-4308, or
mbray@magnetcom.com, for Straightline Source

Web site: http://www.straightline.com/

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