Van Poelvoorde to step down as ArcelorMittal Europe CEO

ArcelorMittal has announced that Geert Van Poelvoorde will step down as chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal Europe at the end of July after more than three decades with the company and five years leading its European business.

The Belgian steel executive will remain closely involved with the company as chairman of the board of ArcelorMittal Europe Steel and will continue to represent the group within Eurofer, the European Steel Association.

Four decades in the steel industry

Van Poelvoorde joined the company in 1989 as a project engineer at the hot strip mill in Ghent, Belgium. During his career he held various operational and engineering roles, including assignments in Bremen, before returning to Ghent and later becoming CEO of the Belgian site in 2008.

He subsequently led several major business units within the group, including ArcelorMittal's Northern Business Division and Flat Carbon Europe activities, before taking over responsibility for the European business in 2021. Between 2015 and 2022, he also served as president of Eurofer.

Europe to report directly to group management

The departure marks a broader organizational change at ArcelorMittal. The company does not intend to appoint a direct successor to the position of CEO Europe. Instead, the chief executives of the group's European operations will report directly to group CEO Aditya Mittal.

ArcelorMittal has rejected suggestions that the move reflects a reduced commitment to Europe, describing the region as strategically important for the company. Europe remains ArcelorMittal's largest steel-producing region, accounting for more than half of its crude steel production and shipments and employing more than 43,000 people.

Focus on decarbonization and competitiveness

During Van Poelvoorde's tenure, ArcelorMittal accelerated several strategic initiatives in Europe, including digitalization projects, safety programs and investments in lower-carbon steelmaking technologies. The company also introduced market mechanisms such as green steel certificates aimed at supporting demand for low-carbon steel products.

Aditya Mittal credited Van Poelvoorde with helping position the European business for the transition towards lower-emission steel production and strengthening its competitiveness in an increasingly challenging market environment.

For his part, Van Poelvoorde pointed to recent policy developments as reasons for growing confidence in the future of European steelmaking. He highlighted the introduction of the EU's new steel trade measure and the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as important steps towards creating a more level playing field for European producers.

Key projects remain under scrutiny

Despite improving trade protection measures, Europe's steel sector continues to face major challenges, including high energy costs, international competition and the substantial investment requirements associated with decarbonization.

Attention remains focused on several large-scale transformation projects across the continent, including ArcelorMittal's planned decarbonization investments involving electric arc furnaces and direct reduced iron production capacity. Final investment decisions for some of these projects have yet to be taken.

While stepping away from operational responsibilities, Van Poelvoorde's continued involvement as chairman of ArcelorMittal Europe Steel and representative at Eurofer ensures that one of Europe's most prominent steel executives will remain closely connected to the sector's ongoing transformation.