RUUKKI GROUP APPOINTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

07:00 London, 09:00 Helsinki, 4 May 2011 – Ruukki Group Plc, Stock Exchange Release

RUUKKI GROUP APPOINTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Ruukki Group Plc (“Ruukki” or the “Company”) (LSE: RKKI, OMX: RUG1V) is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Hoyer as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately and Theuns de Bruyn as Chief Operating Officer, effective from 1 July 2011. Dr Danko Koncar, previously Acting Managing Director, will become Enterprise Director responsible for the Group’s strategic direction and new business development.

Thomas Hoyer was previously Group CFO and CEO of Ruukki’s Wood Processing Business. During Thomas’ two year tenure as CEO of the Wood Processing Business, he was responsible for turning around the division and for five subsidiary disposals, valued at over EUR 100 million. Prior to joining Ruukki in 2008, he held a number of senior management positions in portfolio management, private equity, finance and management. His previous employers include Allianz, Bank am Bellevue, Invision and Aldata Solution. He holds a MSc in Economics.

Theuns de Bruyn joins Ruukki from Lonmin Platinum, the world's third largest primary platinum producer, where he has been the Executive Vice President, Process Division since late 2006. During this time Theuns was responsible for restructuring the division, including eight concentrators, five furnaces, the Base Metals Refinery, the Precious Metals Refinery, and the de-bottlenecking of the whole value chain. He was also responsible for Lonmin’s corporate HSE function and Lonmin’s Sustainability Report. Prior to joining Lonmin, he worked for BHP Billiton for nearly 20 years, where he held a number of positions in the ferrochrome unit, including Project Manager for the sale of BHP Billiton’s interest in Samancor Chrome (USD 580 million transaction) and General Manager of the Tubatse ferrochrome facility. He has an MBA and holds a B.Ing. Chemical.

The Ruukki Executive Management Team will now comprise:
Thomas Hoyer, Chief Executive Officer
Dr Danko Koncar, Enterprise Director
Theuns de Bruyn, Chief Operating Officer
Stefano Bonati, Chief Commercial Officer
Markus Kivimäki, General Manager: Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary
Kalle Lehtonen, General Manager: Finance
Dr Alistair Ruiters, Executive Chairman, Ruukki South Africa

The CEO, Thomas Hoyer, and the Enterprise Director, Dr Danko Koncar, will report to the Board of Directors. Dr Alistair Ruiters, who has been appointed Executive Chairman for Ruukki South Africa, will report to Danko Koncar, whilst all other members of the Executive Management Team will report to the CEO.

Commenting on the new executive appointments, Dr Jelena Manojlovic, Chairman, said “On behalf of the Ruukki Board, I am delighted to welcome Thomas and Theuns in their new positions. The appointment of a CEO and COO is very timely for Ruukki as it begins a new chapter in its corporate development as a focused mining and minerals producer, following the disposal of its wood assets during the first quarter 2011. I would like to thank Danko for his interim management of the Company during this transition period, which included the strategic acquisition of Chromex Mining plc, enabling our FerroAlloy business to become vertically integrated with the access to chrome ore.”

RUUKKI GROUP PLC
Dr Jelena Manojlovic
Chairman of the Board of Directors


For additional information, please contact:

Ruukki Group Plc
Markus Kivimäki, General Manager: Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary, +358 50 3495 687, markus.kivimaki@ruukkigroup.fi

Investec Bank Plc
Stephen Cooper, +44 (0)20 7597 5104, stephen.cooper@investec.co.uk

RBC Capital Markets
Martin Eales, +44 (0)20 7653 4000, martin.eales@rbccm.com
Peter Barrett-Lennard, +44 (0)20 7653 4000, peter.barrett-lennard@rbccm.com


Ruukki Group is a natural resources company with a mining and minerals business in southern Europe and southern Africa. The Company is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (RUG1V) and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (RKKI).
www.ruukkigroup.fi

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NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
London Stock Exchange
main media
www.ruukkigroup.fi