The American Institute of Steel Construction thanks Nucor Corp.’s Chairman and CEO, John J. Ferriola, for his dedicated service to the American steel industry.

Ferriola will retire effective Dec. 31, 2019, Nucor announced Friday. Ferriola began his tenure at Nucor as the manager of maintenance and engineering at Nucor Steel-Texas in 1991.

“We are better for the leadership of John Ferriola in his work at Nucor and the meaningful involvement he has fostered for Nucor in the activities of the industry and AISC,” said AISC President Charles J. Carter, SE, PD, PhD.

AISC also congratulates Leon J. Topalian, who is now president and chief operating officer of Nucor Corp. Topalian will succeed Ferriola as CEO effective Jan. 1, 2020.

“Leon has provided great support to AISC as a member of our Board for the past several years, and we are excited for him — and for Nucor — in his new role,” said David Zalesne, chair of the AISC Board of Directors and president of Columbia, S.C.-based Owen Steel Co. Inc. “I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with Leon on many issues affecting the industry, and I have no doubt that he will continue to provide tremendous leadership to Nucor and to the American steel industry.”