WCI Steel taps Anthony to fill its top two posts [UPDATE]

Dec 06, 2007 | 12:35 PM | Maria Guzzo

Things might finally be looking up for WCI Steel Inc., Warren, Ohio, which has a new leader in place, resumed blast furnace production and installed its new walking beam furnace ahead of schedule.

While WCI still has considerable challenges ahead of it, Leonard M. Anthony, the company's new president and chief executive officer, sees a parting in the clouds. "I am confident that working together with our customers, suppliers and employees, we can successfully implement solutions to the problems facing WCI," he said. "We are committed to being faster and more aggressive in leading WCI Steel to a brighter future."

However, while Anthony has a solid management background, a lack of experience in running a steel mill could be a significant drawback.

"As far as I know, he has not had line operating experience—having factories reporting to him," said Wilbur Ross, chairman of W.L. Ross & Co. LLC, New York, and former chairman of International Steel Group Inc. (ISG). "I don't think there's a problem with the scale of the number of people reporting, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to make the transition from running a big staff to running factories. But I'm sure he'll learn quickly how to do it."....