Arcelor and Mittal Steel Company named its first CEO, Roland Junck to lead the company.

Roland Junck is currently the senior executive vice president of Arcelor's Group Management Board, a position he has held since Arcelor's creation in 2002. Since 2006 he has been responsible for various parts of the company in South America and Europe, and China.

"I am very proud to be taking up the position of CEO at Arcelor Mittal. I have had many happy years working at Arcelor and its predecessor companies. I have also watched with admiration the growth of Mittal Steel which has established itself as one of the most exciting and dynamic companies in the steel industry today,' said Junck.

The combination of Mittal and Arcelor to become the world's largest steel maker came about due to a surge in demand for steel from emerging countries such as China, which is likely to consume between 320 million to 330 million tons of steel in 2006, according to the International Iron and Steel Institute.

'His experience in Luxembourg's steel mills, which he contributed to modernize, in Spain after the privatization of the Spanish steel industry, in South America where he steered Arcelor's long carbon business, as well as more recently in China where he oversaw our expansion plans, has given him an in-depth knowledge and a far-reaching vision of the steel industry,' said Joseph Kinsch, Chairman of the Board of Arcelor Mittal.

During Mittal's takeover battle for Arcelor which began early this year, Junck shied away from the camera offering little in terms of comments or insight to the media.

Current Arcelor CEO Guy Dolle,who is expected to step down next year, was not present in the new management lineup. Dolle had taken an active role in attempting to prevent a Mittal takeover.

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