NERYUNGRI, NOVOSIBIRSK and MOSCOW, Russia, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metalscompanies, announces three appointments to executive positions at itssubsidiaries.
Vladimir Dronov (54) was appointed General Director of Mechel's YakutugolOJSHC coal mining subsidiary, succeeding Igor Khafizov. Previously, Mr.Dronov was Director for Technical Policy at Yakutugol OJSHC. Mr. Khafizov(40), who headed this subsidiary, now becomes the Chief Executive Officer ofMechel Mining OAO, a new Mechel's subsidiary founded in April 2008.
Prior to being appointed General Director at Yakutugol OJSHC, Mr. Dronovwas Director for Technical Policy of Yakutugol OJSHC from 2007. From 2006 to2007, he was Deputy General Director for Long Term Business Development andTechnical Policy of Yakutugol OJSHC. He was Director of Yakutugol's NeryungriOpen Pit Mine from 2001 to 2006, and the Head of the Production Directorate ofYakutugol State Unitary Enterprise's Office from 1997 to 2001. From 1979 to1997, Mr. Dronov held various positions at Yakutugol SUE's Neryungri Open PitMine, his most recent position there being Deputy Director for Production. Hewas overman of Excavation Special Constriction Directorate No. 16 of theYakutuglestroy complex of enterprises in 1978-1979 and engineer ofRosdorstroymaterialy complex of enterprises in Tula, Russia, in 1977-1978.
Mr. Dronov graduated from the Tula Polytechnic Institute with a degree inMining Engineer, and graduated from the Academy of National Economy under theGovernment of the Russian Federation with a degree in management. Mr. Dronovhas received several awards from the Russian Federation coal industry,including honored worker of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) national economyand a Full Cavalier of the Miner's Glory badge. He is also the recipient ofthe badge of honor from the Russian Coal Miners' Trade Union (Rosugleprof).
Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Mining OAO,Mr. Khafizov was General Director at Yakutugol OJSH since December 2007.Previously, Mr. Khafizov held positions in Mechel's Southern Kuzbass OAO coalmining subsidiary as Managing Director from February 2006 to May 2008;Mechel's Korshunov Mining Plant OAO iron ore mining subsidiary as ManagingDirector from January 2006 to February 2006; and Mechel's Korshunov MiningPlant OAO iron ore mining subsidiary as its General Director from 2003 to2006.
