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United States Steel Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA) chairman and chief executive officer John P. Surma recently announced several executive-level leadership changes.

Vice president of supply chain and customer service John C. Price elected to retire effective November 30, after 40 years of service with the company. Anton Lukac, who served as vice president-engineering and technology, assumed Price's position, and Anthony R. Bridge, who was vice president of operations, will succeed Lukac.

"The extensive and varied operations experiences John had throughout his distinguished career served our company well during times of important change and ultimately enabled him to be an exceptional leader for our supply chain functions since his appointment to that position in 2008," said Surma. "As a third generation U. S. Steel employee, John exhibited a strong sense of commitment to our company throughout his 40-year career, and we wish him and his family all the best in his retirement."

Price, 62, a native of Pittsburgh, started his career with the company in 1969 as an operations trainee at Fairless Works near Philadelphia. From 1969 to 1991, he advanced through increasingly responsible positions in tin mill operations, metallurgical engineering and quality assurance at Fairless Works, corporate headquarters, Mon Valley Works' Irvin Plant and Gary Works.

In 1991, Price was named division manager of sheet products at Mon Valley Works, and two years later transferred to headquarters as district manager-customer technical services, East. He returned to Gary Works in 1994 to serve as manager of quality assurance and manager of business services, respectively, before advancing to plant manager of finishing operations in 1996. He returned to Pittsburgh headquarters as general manager of tin products in 1997.

Following the acquisition of National Steel in May 2003, Price was named general manager of the Midwest Plant and led the successful integration of that facility. In 2005, he was named general manager of business planning. He was appointed vice president of supply chain in March 2008 and added responsibility for customer service in April 2009. Price graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA, in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering.

In his new position, Lukac, 49, will be responsible for the company's business planning, logistics services, processed products and customer service organizations. Lukac will report to senior vice president of North American flat roll operations Michael S. Williams.

"Anton's detailed knowledge of our operations – gained during a career that includes plant management and executive oversight of research and engineering activities – make him a solid choice to fill this important role," Surma explained.

Lukac began his steelmaking career at Slovak steelmaker VSZ a.s. in 1982 as a technologist in the cold rolling mill. Over the next 16 years, he progressed through increasingly responsible positions in a variety of departments, eventually serving as vice president of technology for VSZ.

When U. S. Steel Kosice (USSK) was created in November 2000, Lukac was named vice president of strategic implementation and reported directly to USSK's president. In that position, he was responsible for USSK pipe and radiator operations while managing 18 USSK domestic and foreign subsidiaries and supporting regional development through USSK's Economic Development Center.