Aperam announced that Sud Sivaji has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026. This completes the leadership succession plan initiated in September 2025 following the retirement of Tim di Maulo. Mr. Sivaji, previously Aperam's Chief Financial Officer, brings 25 years of engineering, supply chain, and financial expertise to the role, with industrial experience spanning the steel, stainless, and aerospace sectors.
In his statement, Sivaji emphasized the company's core ambition: to establish Aperam as the leading value creator in the circular economy of infinite, world-changing materials. He framed this not merely as steel production but as creating value across integrated supply chains, from stainless and electrical steel to aerospace alloys, recycling, charcoal, and forestry. These materials, he stated, are fundamental to powering the planet's future. The broader Leadership Team supporting Mr. Sivaji has been operational since 1 October 2025, with the full structure detailed on the company website.
The leadership transition holds significant implications for the industry and Aperam's stakeholders. For business and technology leaders, it underscores a strategic pivot where industrial giants are redefining value creation around circularity and sustainability. Aperam's model integrates production with recycling and renewable inputs, a structure that could set a benchmark for materials-intensive sectors facing pressure to decarbonize. The company's commitment is demonstrated by its unique capability to produce low carbon footprint steels from biomass and scrap, and through entities like Aperam Recycling | ELG, a global leader in processing and recycling stainless steel and high-performance alloys.
With a flat Stainless and Electrical steel capacity of 2.5 million tonnes and a presence in over 40 countries, Aperam's direction under Sivaji signals a consolidation of its circular economy strategy. The company's four reportable segments—Stainless & Electrical Steel, Services & Solutions, Alloys & Specialties, and Recycling & Renewables—are designed to work as an integrated value chain. This integration, coupled with sustainability credentials like its ResponsibleSteel™ certification ensuring high ESG standards, positions Aperam to potentially influence global supply chains toward greater resource efficiency and lower environmental impact.
For customers and investors, the leadership change reinforces continuity with a focus on responsible value creation. Sivaji's background in finance and operations suggests a balanced approach to driving innovation while maintaining fiscal discipline. The fully operational leadership team is now tasked with executing Aperam's long-term strategy in a competitive and evolving market for advanced materials. As industries from automotive to energy transition increasingly demand sustainable, high-performance materials, Aperam's integrated circular model under its new CEO could provide a competitive edge and influence broader industry practices in the years ahead.
