Leadership team

Mike Williams was appointed president and chief executive officer of Metallus Inc. On January 1, 2021. Previously, he was chief executive officer of Bayou Steel Group, a U.S. producer of structural steel and merchant bar. Prior to joining Bayou, Mike served as President Outokumpu Americas for Outokumpu Oyj (OUT1V. HE), a global leader in the stainless steel industry. Before that, Mike held a number of leadership roles at U.S. Steel (NYSE: X), including senior vice president North American Flat Rolled, and most recently senior vice president, strategic planning and business development. Earlier in his career, Mike served as vice president of commercial products at Special Metals Corporation and as chairman and chief executive officer of Ormet Corporation. Mike holds a bachelor of science degree in information science with a minor in economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Kevin Raketich was named executive vice president and chief commercial officer in May of 2022. Kevin most recently held the role of executive vice president of sales, marketing, and business development for Metallus Inc. Since joining the company in 1990, he has held positions in manufacturing, marketing, and strategy. These included leadership of the global steering business segment when the steel business was part of The Timken Company, during which he oversaw operations in the U.S. and Brazil. Kevin also held several management roles as an expatriate in Shanghai, China for nearly a decade, including managing director of distribution and later, alloy steel. Upon returning to the U.S., he led business development and strategic marketing for Metallus and served as vice president of the company’s industrial and energy segments. Kevin sits on the Board of Trustees of the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum and the Management Advisory Board of Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business. Kevin earned a bachelor’s degree in material science engineering from Michigan State University and was a Fuqua Scholar while receiving his master’s degree in business administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Kris Syrvalin was named executive vice president, general counsel and chief human resources officer in May 2022. Kris most recently held the position of executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Metallus Inc. In this role, Kris is responsible for the legal, ethics and compliance, and human resources functions. She is experienced in advising corporations, senior management, and boards of directors on corporate and securities law, corporate finance, corporate governance, executive compensation, employee benefits, employment law, and mergers and acquisitions, among other matters. Previously, she served as the assistant general counsel and vice president of ethics and compliance. Kris joined Metallus in September 2014 from OMNOVA Solutions Inc., where she held the position of vice president – assistant general counsel and corporate secretary. Kris earned her bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and her juris doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Kris Westbrooks, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Metallus, joined the company in September 2018 and leads a team responsible for financial planning and analysis, controllership, investor relations, tax, treasury, risk management, and information technology. Kris most recently served as vice president, chief accounting officer, and corporate controller at A. Schulman, Inc., an international supplier of high-performance plastic formulations, resins, and services, where he was responsible for leading the integration of the company’s merger with LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB). Prior to that, Kris was a global accounting consultation manager and senior financial analyst for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), a multinational manufacturer of consumer goods. He also has experience in external auditing, having begun his career at PwC after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy at Miami University.

Ron Rice was named Chairman of the Board for Metallus Inc. in May 2021. He also serves on the board’s nominating and corporate governance committee. Ron joined the Board of Directors in January 2015. Ron’s expertise spans key functional areas at industrial companies, having nearly 30 years of experience in strategy, corporate governance, risk management, administration, employee benefits, and executive compensation. Until his retirement in 2018, Ron served as president and chief operating officer of RPM International Inc., which owns subsidiaries that manufacture specialty coatings, sealants, and building materials, and provides related services for industrial and consumer markets globally. He began his career with The Wyatt Company, an actuarial consulting firm, which later became part of Willis Towers Watson. Ron serves on Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital Leadership Council. He also serves as a member of the Business Advisory Council for the Farmer School of Business at Miami University.

Mary Ellen Baker joined the Metallus board of directors in November 2022 and serves on the audit committee. She is a retired Fortune 500 executive with extensive experience leading large-scale technology, operations, cybersecurity, and enterprise data initiatives, and a change agent who has helped lead companies through transformation to achieve their growth objectives. She most recently served as executive vice president and head of business services for Citizens Bank, where she was recognized by American Banker’s Most Powerful Women as a standout in her field. Previously, she was executive vice president of enterprise services at PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Mary Ellen is a board member for Foster Forward, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children affected by foster care.

Nick Chirekos joined the Metallus board of directors in November 2022 and serves on the audit committee. He has an extensive background in investment banking and capital markets, with a focus on the mining industry. He served in various investment banking roles at J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., most recently as the managing director, North America head of mining. Prior to that, he served as the global head of mining and metals. In these roles, Nick established himself as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leadership and brings extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions, as well as equity and debt transactions. Nick serves on the boards of Peabody Energy Corporation, where he is chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Executive committees, and New Gold Inc., where he is chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and a member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee. Nick also serves as a member of the Executive Advisory Board at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.

Diane Creel is a founding member of the Metallus board of directors and serves on its compensation committee. She brings to the board deep experience as an industrial leader, with expertise in engineering, construction, and green technology. With Diane’s background in mergers and acquisitions, she also lends valuable input to the board’s evaluation of organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Diane served as chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Ecovation Inc. until her retirement in 2008. A subsidiary of Ecolab Inc., Ecovation is a waste stream technology company. Prior to that, Diane was chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Earth Tech, Inc. Diane has been a member of other distinguished boards, including Allegheny Technologies Incorporated since 1996, Enpro Industries, Inc. since 2009 and URS Corp. since March 2014. At Allegheny Technologies, she was the lead independent director, chaired the nominating and governance committee, and served on the finance, personnel and compensation committees. At Enpro Industries, she was a member of the audit and risk management and compensation and human resources committees. She stepped down as a member of the board of directors of The Timken Company when TimkenSteel, now known as Metallus, became an independent company, and she previously served on the boards of Foster Wheeler Ltd. and Goodrich Corporation.

Randall Edwards joined the Metallus board of directors in January 2015 and serves on the compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees. He retired in April 2022 from his position as president and chief executive officer of P2 Energy Services, LLC (formerly Premier Pipe, LLC) (a leader in the supply and management of engineered premium oil country tubular goods), a position which he had held since 2015. Previously, he served as president and chief operating officer of Premier Pipe from 2014 to 2015. From 1999 to 2014, Randall held various positions with NOV Grant Prideco (a leading supplier of oil field drill stem components), including president of NOV Grant Prideco from 2008 to 2014. He began his career at Wilson Supply, where he managed Wilson’s oil country tubular goods and its drill pipe product line.

Ken Garcia joined the Metallus board of directors in August 2021 and serves on the audit and compensation committees. He brings to the board expertise in the technology industry, with a deep understanding of business and product development, marketing, legal, finance, and merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions. As an executive fellow with Q2 Software Inc., Ken assists the board of directors and executive leadership team with long-term planning related to M&A, talent, and its product roadmap. Q2 Software is a financial experience company dedicated to providing digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance, and fintech companies in the U.S. and internationally. Previously, Ken co-founded and served as president of PrecisionLender, and co-founded and served as CEO of Halo Technologies, Inc. Earlier in his career, he was chief financial officer and general counsel with Ecovation, Inc. Ken is a board member of McKim & Creed, Inc., an engineering services company, where he chairs the company’s audit and compensation committees. Active in the nonprofit community, Ken is affiliated with various boards and organizations and is a member of Cornell University’s Athletic Advisory Committee to the Board of Trustees.

Ellis Jones joined the Metallus board of directors in August 2021 and serves on the audit and nominating and corporate governance committees. He brings more than 30 years of expertise in the auto components industry, with a deep understanding of operational excellence, sustainability, business transformation, and safety leadership. Before retiring, Ellis was vice president and chief sustainability officer with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company – a global manufacturer of tires and engineered products. Prior to his current role, he was vice president of global environmental, health, safety, sustainability, and business continuity. He has served in various progressive leadership positions with the company, including as senior director of global environmental, health, safety and sustainability, manufacturing director for its race tire division, and finance director of its North American tire division. He also has served as the finance director of office property and casualty insurance at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. He began his career in various finance roles with Goodyear. Active in the nonprofit community, Ellis is affiliated with various boards and organizations in Akron, Ohio.

Don Misheff is a founding member of the TimkenSteel Corporation (now known as Metallus) board of directors and serves on its audit committee. He brings deep knowledge of finance and accounting to the board. Before retiring in 2011, Don was managing partner of the Northeast Ohio office of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm. He began his career at Ernst & Young in 1978 as part of the audit staff and later joined the tax practice, specializing in accounting/financial reporting for income taxes, purchase accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. He has more than 30 years of experience in taxation and in performing, reviewing, and overseeing the audits of financial statements of a wide range of public companies, as well as advising those companies on financial and corporate governance issues. Don also serves on the board of Aleris Corporation, where he is a member of the audit committee.

Jamy Rankin joined the Metallus board of directors in August 2023 and serves on the audit committee. She is the retired president and chief executive officer of Ford Component Sales, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. During her tenure at Ford, Jamy expanded the company’s market presence and product offerings through collaboration, market penetration, and strategic expansion. Additionally, she spearheaded international growth initiatives and effectively managed four operational divisions and supporting functions, including finance, engineering, information technology, and human resources. Prior to her time at Ford, she held influential positions in marketing and sales at Case New Holland and Navistar. Jamy currently serves on the boards of Motorcar Parts of America (Nasdaq: MPAA), a remanufacturer, manufacturer, and distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, and Bronner Brothers, Inc., one of the largest private African American hair and skin care product producers in the United States. She also currently serves on the board of visitors for the University of Pittsburgh School of Industrial Engineering and previously was a long-time member of the board of visitors at the Howard University School of Business.

Mike Williams was appointed president and chief executive officer of Metallus Inc. On January 1, 2021. Previously, he was chief executive officer of Bayou Steel Group, a U.S. producer of structural steel and merchant bar. Prior to joining Bayou, Mike served as President Outokumpu Americas for Outokumpu Oyj (OUT1V. HE), a global leader in the stainless steel industry. Before that, Mike held a number of leadership roles at U.S. Steel (NYSE: X), including senior vice president North American Flat Rolled, and most recently senior vice president, strategic planning and business development. Earlier in his career, Mike served as vice president of commercial products at Special Metals Corporation and as chairman and chief executive officer of Ormet Corporation. Mike holds a bachelor of science degree in information science with a minor in economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Randall Wotring is a founding member of the TimkenSteel Corporation (now known as Metallus) board of directors and serves on the board’s compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. He is a retired chief operating officer of AECOM, the premier, fully integrated infrastructure firm that designs, builds, finances, and operates assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. There, he oversaw key strategic priorities and enterprise-wide initiatives and was responsible for expanding integrated delivery capabilities for the firm’s service offerings throughout the North America, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Europe-Middle East-India (EMIA) geographies. Prior to being named COO, he led the firm’s management services group, government affairs, service expansion into commercial sectors, and global governments, and he established expertise in resilience on large-scale, critical infrastructure projects. Randall joined AECOM from URS Corporation, where he served as president of Federal Services. He has 35 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry, and is a member of the Association of the United States Army, National Defense Industrial Association, Naval Submarine League, and Professional Services Council, and is an inductee into TheWash100 by GovCon Exec.