The global stainless, electrical, and specialty steel company Aperam has confirmed Sud Sivaji as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026. This appointment finalizes a leadership succession plan initiated in September 2025 following the retirement of former CEO Tim di Maulo. Sivaji, who previously served as the company's Chief Financial Officer, brings 25 years of combined expertise in engineering, supply chain, and finance from the steel, stainless, and aerospace sectors to the role.
The leadership change is significant as it solidifies Aperam's strategic direction at a time when industries globally are prioritizing sustainable and circular economic models. In his statement, Sivaji emphasized that the company's core ambition is to establish itself as the leading value creator in the circular economy of what he termed "infinite, world-changing materials." This vision extends beyond traditional steel production to encompass creating value across integrated supply chains, including stainless and electrical steel, aerospace and specialty alloys, recycling, charcoal, and forestry operations.
"These are the materials that will power our planet’s future," Sivaji stated, highlighting the broader industrial and environmental context of Aperam's mission. He credited the company's 13,000 employees worldwide as the foundation for this ambition, citing their material knowledge, innovation capacity, and collaborative speed. Aperam's operational strength, according to the new CEO, lies in its uniquely integrated value chain where different business segments—Stainless & Electrical Steel, Services & Solutions, Alloys & Specialties, and Recycling & Renewables—operate cohesively.
For customers and communities, Sivaji committed to creating value responsibly, acting as a trusted partner and good neighbor, and continuously improving the world the company serves. The broader Leadership Team supporting him has been operational since 1 October 2025, with details available on the company website. With this structure fully in place, Aperam is positioned to execute its long-term strategy and drive innovation in advanced materials.
The implications of this stabilized leadership are substantial for the industry and the global push toward sustainability. Aperam, with a flat production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of Stainless and Electrical steel in Brazil and Europe, and a leader in high-value specialty products, integrates sustainability deeply into its business model. This includes a unique capability to produce low-carbon footprint steels using biomass and scrap, operated through entities like BioEnergia—which produces charcoal from its own FSC®-certified forestry—and Aperam Recycling | ELG, a global leader in scrap processing and recycling.
The company's commitment is further validated by its ResponsibleSteel™ certification, which ensures high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. For stakeholders, including investors and industries reliant on advanced materials, Aperam's leadership transition under Sivaji signals a focused continuation toward circular economy principles, potentially influencing supply chain sustainability and material innovation worldwide. The completion of this succession plan provides stability for Aperam's operations across sixteen production facilities in Brazil, Belgium, France, the United States, India, and China, as well as its extensive distribution and services network.
