The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has appointed Lawrence W. Kavanagh as President of the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of AISI. Currently AISI Vice President of Environment and Technology, Kavanagh will assume his new responsibilities on March 1.
Kavanagh succeeds current SMDI President David C. Jeanes, who has announced his retirement after a 34-year career with AISI, during which he was responsible for developing and implementing an industry-wide strategic plan to advance the competitive use of North American steel in the marketplace.
“Larry brings a broad range of experience in and understanding of steelmaking technologies, competitive strategies to advance steel in the marketplace, and public policy advocacy, all of which will provide a solid foundation for him to lead AISI’s market development program,” said AISI President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson.
“AISI’s market development program has been a cornerstone of the Institute’s success in engaging customers in pro-competitive collaboration to deliver steel-intensive solutions to the marketplace,” said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President, and CEO of AK Steel, who is serving as AISI’s Chairman. “Larry’s strong advocacy and management skills, along with his experience working collaboratively with steel customers, will enable him to build on the solid foundation that David Jeanes and the SMDI team have established over the years.”
Most recently, Kavanagh has been responsible for AISI’s technology, environment, and climate change policy and programs. In the technology area, that includes oversight of collaborative research programs among steelmakers, suppliers, universities, and labs designed to improve existing steelmaking processes and develop new ones, with focus on reducing or eliminating CO2 emissions.
Kavanagh also has been responsible for leading AISI’s environmental policy activities, which include a wide range of regulatory matters as well as the Institute’s domestic and international climate change initiatives and negotiations, such as the Asia Pacific Partnership.
Prior to joining AISI in 1991, Kavanagh was General Manager, Engineering, for Davy International’s Automation Services Division (currently known as Kvaerner and Voest-Alpine). He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and of the mini MBA program at George Mason University.
Jeanes will retire as President of SMDI on March 1. He and his market development team actively advanced the use of steel through market-driven strategies, focusing on the automotive, construction, and container markets, as well as on new-growth opportunities in nontraditional steel markets. The SMDI scope also encompasses value-added long products and steel recycling.
Jeanes spearheaded the development and implementation of the Market Development Strategic Plan, which guided SMDI’s aggressive programs to establish steel as a cost-effective solution for customers. His professional career has concentrated on management, engineering, marketing research, and construction.
He was instrumental in the establishment of work plans leading to the formation of the Steel Framing Alliance, the Metal Roofing Alliance, the National Steel Bridge Alliance, the Auto/Steel Partnership, the Canned Food Alliance, and the Steel Recycling Institute. He has served on the boards of directors for the Steel Construction Roundtable, National Steel Bridge Alliance, American Society for Testing and Materials, and the Steel Recycling Institute.
The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) is a business unit of AISI that grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction, and container markets, as well as for new-growth opportunities in non-traditional steel markets. SMDI is comprised of eight member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers: AK Steel Corp., ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corp., Severstal North America Inc., SSAB Americas, United States Steel Corp., and USS-POSCO Industries.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the material of choice. It also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. The Institute comprises 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.