Peter Brennan Appointed UK Steel Director-General

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Peter Brennan Appointed UK Steel Director-General

UK Steel has welcomed Peter Brennan as its new Director-General, taking over from Gareth Stace, who has been at the helm for 12 years. Stace will stay on as an adviser for a brief transition period before officially stepping away from the organization.

Brennan comes with a wealth of experience in steel industry policy and advocacy. He has been instrumental in UK Steel’s initiatives to safeguard domestic producers against global subsidization and overproduction. Before this role, he reported on steel markets at Platts and later delved into global macroeconomics and capital markets at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

His appointment arrives at a pivotal time as the UK Government’s Steel Strategy seeks to reverse years of declining domestic steel production and boost the use of British steel within the UK.

Brennan has pinpointed high electricity costs, global overcapacity, investment, and public procurement as significant challenges that call for closer collaboration between the government and the industry.

Reflecting on his new role, Brennan remarked: “This is a hugely important moment for our sector.”

Stace has guided UK Steel since 2015, navigating major industry hurdles such as the closure of Redcar steelworks, multiple steel crises, Brexit, the energy crisis, and various interventions involving specific steel companies. His leadership was crucial in securing policy changes related to energy costs, trade defense, public procurement, and decarbonization.

In regard to his successor, Stace commented: “Peter knows this industry inside out and will be a formidable champion for it.”

Brennan has committed to building on these successes, enhancing representation for UK steelmakers, and supporting initiatives to boost domestic steel production and attract new investments.