Tata Steel UK is pleased to announce that its Chief Executive,
Rajesh Nair, has been appointed the new Chair of UK Steel, the
representative body for the UK's steel industry. This is a role
he will undertake in addition to his existing responsibilities at
Tata Steel UK.
Rajesh brings over 36 years of experience across the Tata Steel
Group to this leadership role. Since joining Tata Steel UK as
Chief Operating Officer in 2021 and becoming CEO in 2023, he has
played a central role in reshaping the business, advancing its
transition to low-CO2 steelmaking, and helping
secure the future of domestic steel production in South Wales and
beyond.
A graduate in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of
Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Rajesh has held several
senior operational and commercial roles across Tata Steel Group.
He has overseen major transformation programmes across global
sites – from managing the Cold Rolling Mill complex at Jamshedpur
to playing a key role in the integration of Corus Group into Tata
Steel in 2007.
Commenting on his appointment, Rajesh Nair said:
“It is an honour to be appointed Chair of UK Steel at such a
pivotal moment for the industry. This is a period of profound
change – with significant challenges, but also real opportunities
to strengthen the sector for the long term. I look forward to
working with UK Steel members and stakeholders to help secure
that future – working closely with Government on its Steel
Strategy and addressing structural issues like uncompetitive
energy costs and the growing threat of high-emission
imports”.
Gareth Stace, Director-General, UK Steel said:
“The appointment of Rajesh as Chair of UK Steel is excellent
news for both UK Steel and our industry as a whole. Rajesh will
bring a wealth of experience across both the global and UK steel
industry to this role. His appointment could not have come at a
better time as our industry looks to modernise and grow as
Government prepares to publish its Steel Strategy this
autumn.”
Rajesh is a Board member of Tata Steel UK and chairs Surahammars
Bruks in Sweden. He is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced
management training from Carnegie Mellon University and
CEDEP-INSEAD. A recognised technical innovator, he holds
published research and patents in galvanised steel products has
been a member of committees and the Indian Institute of Metals.
