The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), announced that Daniel G. Mull, executive vice president of sales and marketing at ArcelorMittal USA, has been named to replace J. James Kutka, Jr. as chairman of the SMDI Board of Directors effective April 1, 2009. Kutka, senior vice president-strategic planning and business development at United States Steel Corporation, will be retiring from United States Steel Corporation on the same day.

WASHINGTON - The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), announced that Daniel G. Mull, executive vice president of sales and marketing at ArcelorMittal USA, has been named to replace J. James Kutka, Jr. as chairman of the SMDI Board of Directors effective April 1, 2009. Kutka, senior vice president-strategic planning and business development at United States Steel Corporation, will be retiring from United States Steel Corporation on the same day.

“We welcome Dan as the new SMDI Chairman and thank Jim for his leadership of AISI’s Market Development program over the past four years,” Thomas Gibson, AISI President and CEO, said in announcing the change.

Kutka was appointed the first chairman of the SMDI Board of Directors in September 2008, when the organization was established by AISI. The SMDI, formerly known as the AISI Market Development Committee, has a mission “to advance the competitive use of steel through a market-driven strategy that promotes cost-effective, steel-based solutions.” Mull will take on the SMDI chairmanship as the organization initiates a strategic planning process to address program direction over the next five years. The SMDI is uniquely supported by seven leading steel producer members.