American Zinc Recycling LLC (“AZR”), the leading provider of environmental services to the U.S. steel industry, today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has named Joel Hawthorne as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 17, 2020. Wayne Isaacs, Interim President & Chief Executive Officer, will return to his position as Chairman of the Board, a position he has held since 2017, once Hawthorne joins the company.
Hawthorne has more than 30 years of experience, bringing to the position a wealth of knowledge and an array of experiences in domestic and international manufacturing environments, global operations, profit and loss, and balance sheet oversight. Hawthorne has a demonstrated history of success working in the steel, carbon, and graphite product materials industries, coming to AZR from Specialty Steel Works Incorporated, a $500 million steel product manufacturer, where he served as Chief Executive Officer since 2017. There, he reduced overhead costs, increased productivity in manufacturing, and improved profitability.
“We are very pleased to welcome Joel as our new President and CEO,” said Isaacs. “Joel is a proven leader whose experience makes him well positioned to lead American Zinc Recycling. His extensive background in the industry combined with his track record of achieving strong business outcomes and implementing successful business strategies make him the right fit for the company.
Continued Isaacs, We have a truly unique company that is the largest recycler of steel mill dust in North America, and the only one to be able to turn it into a valuable pure zinc metal– Joel is the right person to build on the unique value proposition and take us to the next level.”
“I am honored and excited to assume leadership of American Zinc Recycling,” said Hawthorne. “AZR is a leading driver of sustainability in the U.S. steel economy. I look forward to working closely with the board members, management, and all team members to continue to create a culture of excellence while driving growth and value for our customers, suppliers and all stakeholders of this great company.”