Jersey City, N.J.-based ISRI member Sims Metal has appointed Robert Thompson its global chief commercial officer, effective July 11. Thompson formerly was vice president of sales and marketing at Gerdau Long Steel North America. Tampa, Fla.-based Gerdau Metals Recycling, a division of Porto Alegre, Brazil-based Gerdau SA, also is an ISRI member.
“I am very excited that Rob Thompson is joining our metal business division,” says Alistair Field, Mascot, Australia-based parent company Sims Ltd.’s managing director and CEO. “Rob’s substantial experience at a global, well-respected organization in both the production and sale of steel and recycled metal makes him uniquely qualified to lead the commercial arm of our metal business division.”
Sims Metal began its search for a new chief commercial officer after Michael Movsas announced his retirement in January of this year.
Thompson joined Gerdau North America as part of an acquisition in 2004 as vice president and general manager of the Ameristeel Recycling business. He held several roles with increasing responsibilities in commercial, operations, and logistics in Gerdau’s metallics and raw materials divisions until his most recent position leading sales and marketing for Gerdau North American Long Steel. He and his family also spent several years in Brazil where he had responsibilities spanning Europe and the Americas.
Prior to joining Gerdau, Thompson spent 15 years at metal recycling companies, initially starting as a scale operator, then working as a commercial trade buyer and ferrous products trader.
“I’ve had the pleasure of doing business with Sims Metal in the past, and I admired their commitment to being a leader and innovator in the metal industry,” he says. “As I have learned more about the business and its strategy in recent weeks, I am even more excited to be a part of this organization, which is made up of great people who are aligned and collaborate in their efforts to achieve the company goals and ultimately the Sims Purpose.”
At Sims Metal, Thompson will have global responsibility for shipping and chartering, as well as both ferrous and non-ferrous material buying and processed material sales. In addition to holding this principal commercial role, Thompson will also be an integral member of Sims Ltd.’s executive leadership team where his extensive management experience and perspective will allow him to immediately contribute toward achieving the company’s strategic goals.
Thompson received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Toronto.
Photo courtesy of Sims Metal.
