About John D. Foster

International Steel Trader

John  D. Foster was elected Chairman of the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS), now the American Metals Supply Chain Institute, in December 2010 and assumed office in January 2011.

Mr. Foster was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and graduated with honors from Marietta College in 1974 with a BA in Business and Economics. In 1991 an MBA was added to his academic resume from the University of Colorado in conjunction with the University of San Francisco’s  McLaren School of Business.

His steel career began at J & L Steel Corporation (later LTV Steel, ISG and now Arcelor Mittal Steel) after being recruited upon graduation from Marietta.  Subsequent marketing assignments at J & L were carried out in Pittsburgh, Detroit and Houston covering the full line of J & L products from carbon and stainless flat rolled through pipe, bar, rod and wire.

In 1980, John joined CF & I Steel (now Evraz-Rocky Mountain Steel) in Pueblo, Colorado.   Subsequent marketing assignments were carried out in Chicago, Los Angeles and Pueblo where production planning functions were later added to his responsibilities. For the last four years at CF & I, John was the General Manager of the bar, rod and wire mills in Pueblo which later included the rail mill.

As of January 1, 2008, the steel trading arm of Ferrostaal was merged into what is today Coutinho & Ferrostaal International and Mr. Foster carried the titles of Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President - Commercial for the sector of the Group that oversees the America’s as well as President and CEO of the company’s North American Division.  Both organizations are headquartered in Houston, Texas and where John resided for 25 years. He also served on the Boards of C&F Incorporated, CF-Mexico, CF Ltd.- Canada as well as Adelphia Metals Incorporated.  Under the newly formed C & F, Foster was asked to focus on the USA market as its CEO.

Industry activities include serving as Chairman for the Texas Free Trade Coalition during the Section 201 sanctions on steel under the Bush Administration and a long time member and presenter to the American Wire Producers Association and the Wire Association International.  He has been on the Board of Directors for the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) for five years and today serves as its Chairman.   John also served as a Steel Fellow for the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in 1985.