Kirby Adams

As well as operational responsibility for Tata Steel Europe, Kirby Adams is also responsible for several corporate functions across the whole of the Tata Steel Group, namely Finance, Strategy, Safety, Communications, Marketing Strategy and Environment.

Kirby Adams joined the company on April 6th 2009, bringing a proven ability to create substantial shareholder value in complex businesses.  He has a wealth of experience in metals and mining.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in the USA, he grew up in Georgia and Pennsylvania before graduating in industrial and mechanical engineering from Auburn University. He gained an MBA at the University of Virginia.

Previous senior management roles include:

• BlueScope Steel, Melbourne, Australia, 2002-2007, founding Managing Director and CEO BHP Steel, Melbourne, Australia, 2000-2002, President and CEO
• BHP Limited, Melbourne, Australia, 1995-1999, President, BHP Service Companies, executive general manager, corporate strategy and business development
• Titanium Metals Corporation Inc. (TIMET) Pittsburgh/Denver, USA, President and CEO 1989-1995
• NL Industries Inc. Houston and New York City, USA, 1981-1989, series of roles heading operating divisions and leading planning, strategy, M&A, and restructuring, including acquisition and spin off of TIMET.
• Armco Inc. National Supply Division Houston, USA, 1979-1981, head of strategy.

He served as a board member of the Business Council of Australia from 2002-2007 and is a former Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the International Iron and Steel Institute, on which he served from 2000-2007. He received the Institute’s IISI Silver medal for steel industry safety leadership and is also a former Chairman of the Titanium Development Association.

He led BlueScope Steel through demerger from BHP-Billiton and an IPO.  The company achieved a five year total shareholder return of 500 per cent and returned $2.3 billion to shareholders.  The market capitalisation of the company grew from $2.4 billion to $9 billion in five years and more than doubled revenue, margins and earnings.  Under his leadership, BlueScope Steel became one of the safest manufacturing companies in Australia and a safety leader in the global steel industry.

Mr Adams has successfully built businesses in Asia.  He led the planning and development of a unique pan-Asian steel building products franchise with leading metallic coating/painting and pre-engineered buildings business across 30 sites in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Sri Lanka.  He created a significant Indian joint venture with Tata Steel in 2006.

He holds joint US/Australian citizenship and his interests include swimming, skiing, physical fitness, travel and architecture.