Nucor chief executive John Ferriola will retire on 31 December after six years at the helm of the US' largest steelmaker.
Leon Topalian will take over as chief executive on 1 January 2020. Nucor yesterday appointed Topalian as president and chief operating officer. He has held various executive positions at Nucor, most recently that of executive vice president since 2017. He has been with the company since 1996, having been a general manager of Nucor facilities in Arkansas and Illinois among other operational positions.
Ferriola's retirement ends a career at Nucor that began in 1991 when he was a maintenance and engineering manager at Nucor Steel-Texas. He worked his way up to various leadership positions, including as president and chief operating officer from 2011-2012 before taking over as chief executive in 2013. He has been Nucor's chairman since 2014.

