U. S. Steel Announces Executive Appointments in Tubular Products Organization

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) today announced several executive appointments in its tubular products business.  Douglas R. Matthews, who currently serves as vice president-tubular operations, has been appointed senior vice president-tubular operations.  George H. Thompson, Jr., the company's general manager-tubular commercial, has been elected vice president-tubular commercial.  In addition, J. Craig Horan has been advanced to general manager-North American tubular commercial.  The changes are effective Nov. 1.

Commenting on these appointments, U. S. Steel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Surma said, "As North America's largest tubular products manufacturer, U. S. Steel Tubular Products is well-positioned for further growth thanks to the opportunities, particularly those associated with unconventional resource drilling in shale regions, presented by our nation's drive to gain energy independence.  These appointments reaffirm to our industry and our customers that U. S. Steel has a strong, long-term commitment to the tubular products business."

Matthews' responsibilities will remain the same in his new role and he will continue to be based at the company's Pittsburgh headquarters.  

"Since 2009, Doug has effectively developed and led an expansive strategy for our tubular business, which includes the introduction of new products, including our Patriot TC™ premium connection, oilfield services offerings and an increased sales presence in Canada and Brazil," said Surma.  "Under Doug's leadership our tubular business has made significant progress in presenting all of our tubular offerings to an increasingly competitive market.  This more senior executive role demonstrates our confidence in this growing part of our business and in his continued leadership."  

Matthews, 45, joined U. S. Steel in 1988 as a management associate at Mon Valley Works' Edgar Thomson Plant near Pittsburgh, Pa.  After progressing through increasingly responsible management roles at the Edgar Thomson Plant and Mon Valley Works' Irvin Plant, Matthews was transferred to PRO-TEC Coating Company, U. S. Steel's joint venture with Kobe Steel of Japan located in Leipsic, Ohio, in 1997 to manage the installation and commissioning of the facility's second continuous galvanizing line.  

From 1998 to 2005, Matthews advanced through managerial roles in iron production at the former USS/KOBE steelmaking venture in Lorain, Ohio, and iron production and steelmaking and casting activities at Gary Works in Gary, Ind.  In 2005, he was named general manager-blast furnace engineering and technology.  Matthews was appointed vice president and general director of U. S. Steel Serbia, d.o.o. in 2006.  He returned to North America in 2007 when he was named president and general manager of U. S. Steel Canada.  Matthews assumed his most recent role in February 2009 with executive responsibility for U. S. Steel's tubular operations and associated functions.  

A native of Uniontown, Pa., Matthews graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and received a master's degree in business administration from Duquesne University in 1993.  He was recently elected to serve on the American Petroleum Institute's board of directors.  

In the newly created executive position of vice president-tubular commercial, Thompson will have executive oversight of all commercial activities in U. S. Steel's tubular segment.  He will continue to report to Matthews and be based at U. S. Steel's Pittsburgh headquarters.

"A key factor in the growth of our tubular business since 2007 has been the success of our commercial organization under George's leadership," Matthews noted.  "George's accomplishments during the last three years make him the right fit to assume this important new role."  

Thompson, 47, began his career at U. S. Steel in 1987 as a management associate in the tubular products division at the company's headquarters and was promoted to supervisor of business planning at Fairfield (Ala.) Tubular Operations the following year.  From 1989 through 1999, he progressed through increasingly responsible managerial positions in sales and marketing for tubular and sheet products.  

In 1999, Thompson was appointed manager-national accounts, appliances and was responsible for sales to all of the company's appliance customers.  He was named director-commercial, tubular products in 2004 before advancing to general manager-service centers, electrical, agricultural & industrial equipment in 2005, where he was responsible for the sale of flat-rolled products to service centers as well as the electrical, agricultural and industrial markets.  Thompson was named to his most recent position in October 2007 and oversaw all tubular product sales.  

Thompson, a native of Pittsburgh, graduated from Allegheny College in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in political science.  

As general manager-North American tubular commercial, Horan will oversee both OCTG and standard & line pipe sales activities for U. S. Steel's tubular products and services in the North American region.  Horan will continue to report to Thompson and will continue to be based at the U. S. Steel Tubular Products commercial headquarters in Houston, Texas.  

"Our company believes that providing our customers with world-class customer service is just as important as providing them with the high-quality pipe products they've come to expect from us for more than 100 years," said Matthews.  "Craig's extensive service in and knowledge of tubular product sales make him a strong choice for this position and the responsibilities associated with it."

After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Horan, 50 years old and originally from Tyler, Texas, joined National Pipe and Tube Company as a member of their outside sales team.   In 1983, Horan moved to Lone Star Steel Company as a sales representative.  Over the next 24 years, he advanced through increasingly responsible management positions in sales and marketing for a variety of tubular product lines.  In 1991, he earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston.  When U. S. Steel acquired Lone Star Technologies in 2007, Horan was named manager-specialty tubing sales.  He advanced to his most recent position, manager-OCTG sales in April 2008.

For more information about U. S. Steel, visit www.ussteel.com.

SOURCE United States Steel Corporation