Executive Team

Lourenco Goncalves has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs since August 2014. He designed and led the company through a major strategic initiative transforming Cleveland-Cliffs into a leading player in the U.S. steel industry, starting with a complete financial turnaround, followed by growth initiatives in the metallics market and the entry into the steel business. In 2017, Cliffs started the construction in Toledo, Ohio of the world’s most modern Direct Reduction Plant, which started operations in November 2020. Mr. Goncalves led the acquisition of AK Steel in March 2020, followed by the acquisition of ArcelorMittal USA in December 2020. With these two major acquisitions, Cleveland-Cliffs is now the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in the United States and in North America, holding an industry-leading market position in automotive steel. With the Toledo plant, Cleveland-Cliffs became the sole producer in the Great Lakes region of hot briquetted iron (HBI), an environmentally friendly metallic feedstock designed to reduce GHG emissions.

Prior to Cleveland-Cliffs, Mr. Goncalves served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Metals USA Holdings Corp. for over 10 years. Prior to Metals USA, Mr. Goncalves served as President and Chief Executive Officer of California Steel Industries, Inc. for 5 years. Prior to that, he was employed by Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), a major steel and mining company in Brazil, where he held several positions in operations and sales. From October 2011 to April 2014, Mr. Goncalves was a board member of Ascometal SAS, a manufacturer of special steel headquartered in Paris, France.

Mr. Goncalves serves on the Board and is Chairman of the American Iron and Steel Institute. Mr. Goncalves is a Distinguished Member and Fellow of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST). He received AIST's “Steelmaker of the Year” Award for the year 2021. Also in 2021, S&P Global Platts presented Mr. Goncalves with the “CEO/Chairperson of the Year” Global Metals Award, which honors a leader who is highly respected by both peers and competitors, admired and followed by employees, trusted by investors and welcomed by the community. Under Mr. Goncalves’ leadership, Cleveland-Cliffs was awarded by S&P Global Platts the top Global Metals Award as the “2021 Metals Company of the Year” and the “2021 Deal of the Year” Global Metals Award. Mr. Goncalves was also presented with the 2021 “Steel Advocate of the Year” Award, from Fastmarkets. In 2022, Mr. Goncalves was presented with the Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the steel industry while promoting goodwill and integrity.

Mr. Goncalves earned a Master of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Military Institute of Engineering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr. Smith is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs. He provides executive leadership for the Steelmaking business’ operations and commercial sales. Mr. Smith also oversees the company’s Research and Innovation Center and the technology group.

Mr. Smith played a key role in the acquisitions of AK Steel and ArcelorMittal USA in 2020, as the Company became the largest flat-rolled producer of steel in the United States. Formerly, he was Executive Vice President, Business Development and had leadership for developing emerging business opportunities to grow Cleveland-Cliffs’ U.S. domestic market. He served as Executive Vice President, Seaborne Iron Ore where he had oversight for the Company’s former international operations in Australia and Canada. Mr. Smith has also held various senior management positions within Cleveland-Cliffs including Vice President of Cliffs Michigan Operations, Vice President of Latin American Operations and Senior Vice President of Business Development.

During his career, Mr. Smith held mine management positions with Asarco, Southern Peru Copper Corporation, and Amax Coal. He received a BSc in mining engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Mr. Celso L. Goncalves is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He leads the financial organization for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., with executive responsibility for Finance, Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, and Business Development. Prior to his present role, Mr. Goncalves was Senior Vice President of Finance & Treasurer, managing the company’s cash, liquidity, and capital structure, as well as business development initiatives by evaluating and executing M&A transactions and capital investments.

Prior to joining Cleveland-Cliffs, Mr. Goncalves worked in the Industrials Investment Banking group at Deutsche Bank in New York, executing capital markets and strategic advisory transactions for corporate and private equity clients globally. Before Deutsche Bank, he worked in the Leveraged Finance group at Jefferies in New York, structuring and executing High Yield and Leveraged Loan transactions. Mr. Goncalves was also one of the founding members of the Latin America Investment Banking group at Jefferies, based in New York and São Paulo, Brazil.

Mr. Goncalves earned his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He has also passed the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials Exam, FINRA Series 79 Investment Banking Representative Exam, and FINRA Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam. Mr. Goncalves is a Certified Treasury Professional (C.T.P.) by the Association of Financial Professionals.

Mr. Koci is Executive Vice President & President, Cleveland-Cliffs Services. He has executive oversight for IT, procurement and logistics, the downstream business segments of Tooling and Stamping, Tubular Components, Cliffs International and scrap recycling. He leads the growth of Cleveland-Cliffs’ raw material portfolio, with a primary emphasis on expanding Cliffs’ presence in the domestic scrap recycling market.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Koci was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and had executive responsibility for Finance, Accounting, Tax, Treasury and Investor Relations. Mr. Koci joined Cleveland-Cliffs in February 2019 from Metals USA, Inc., where he served most recently as its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that role, he served as Metals USA’s Senior Vice President, Business Development from 2006 to 2013, where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions in addition to capital investments, forecasting, and budgeting. He also held the roles of Vice President, Corporate Controller from 2004 to 2005; Director of Budgeting from 2003 to 2004; and Regional Controller of the Flat Rolled Group from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Koci played a key role in the implementation of Sarbanes Oxley requirements at Metals USA.

Mr. Koci graduated from the University of Illinois – Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1986.

James Graham is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer & Secretary of the Company.  In this role, he has executive responsibility at Cleveland-Cliffs for Legal, Risk Management, Compliance, Government Relations, Human Resources & Labor Relations, Benefits, Corporate Communications and Strategic Partnerships. He is responsible for ensuring coordinated legal services throughout the Company, providing direct counsel to the Board of Directors, overseeing the government, community relations and communication teams, corporate branding and administration of the Cleveland-Cliffs’ code of business conduct and ethics compliance programs.  Mr. Graham has been President of The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation since 2018.  

He joined the Company in 2007 as Assistant General Counsel and has served in various senior management positions within the Company’s legal department since that time.  Before his tenure with Cleveland-Cliffs, Mr. Graham worked as an associate attorney at Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP.  He earned his J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University, his M.A. in French Literature from the University of Michigan and his B.A. degree in English and French from Hiram College.  He serves on several non-profit boards, including Hiram College, Playhouse Square Foundation, the American Red Cross – Northeast Ohio Chapter, and Ohio Contemporary Ballet. 

As Executive Vice President, Operations, Mr. Fedor has executive oversight for Cleveland-Cliffs' steelmaking operations and the Direct Reduction Plant. Previously, he had leadership oversight for the Cleveland-Cliffs' mining and pelletizing operations, as well as transportation and logistics functions, supply chain and asset management.

Mr. Fedor has over 35 years of experience in industrial operations. Prior to joining Cleveland-Cliffs, he served as Vice President and General Manager – Cleveland at former ArcelorMittal USA with responsibility for Warren, Weirton and Monessen steel operations.

Mr. Fedor earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio and a master’s degree in business administration from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a Registered Professional Engineer with the state of Ohio, and previously served as a President of the Board of Directors for the Association for Iron & Steel Technology.

Traci Forrester is Executive Vice President, Environmental & Sustainability of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. She is responsible for the Environmental Affairs and Sustainability functions.

Previously, Ms. Forrester was Executive Vice President, Business Development whereby she was responsible for developing emerging business opportunities supporting Cleveland-Cliffs’ U.S. domestic market. 

Ms. Forrester began her career at Cleveland-Cliffs in 2004 within the company’s legal department. She was Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Assistant Secretary from 2018 to 2019. She was responsible for the company’s compliance with securities laws and financial reporting, execution of strategic transactions and corporate governance matters, including working with the Board of Directors and its Committees. She also coordinated legal services and counsel for the company. Since joining Cliffs as Corporate Attorney, Ms. Forrester has served in various senior management positions within the Company’s legal department.  She was promoted to Group Counsel - Asia Pacific Operations in 2011 and oversaw and directed legal services for that business unit in Australia. She also held the role of  Assistant General Counsel - Corporate Affairs & International Operations. Before her tenure with Cliffs, Ms. Forrester held an in-house legal counsel position at ABB Inc., a multinational industrial process automation company, as a senior attorney. 

Ms. Forrester earned her J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University, and her B.A. Philosophy from Miami University. Currently, she serves as Second Vice President of the AIST Board of Directors. She is also a board member of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, the Cleveland Play House and Friends of Breakthrough Schools.

Mr. Carter is Executive Vice President, Technology. Mr. Carter has executive management oversight for engineering, quality, capital management, and production planning functions of Cleveland-Cliffs' steelmaking operations.

Prior to his present role, Mr. Carter was Senior Vice President, Flat-Rolled Steel Operations, and had senior management oversight for the Company’s flat-rolled carbon steel operations throughout the United States. He was responsible for managing Cleveland-Cliffs’ five integrated steel plants; two finishing operations; a tin plate plant; and the direct reduction plant.

Mr. Carter has over 38 years of broad operational management, corporate strategy and quality experience in the iron and steel industry. Prior to his present role, he was for nearly a decade the general manager of the largest integrated steel mill in North America at Indiana Harbor in Lake County, Indiana. During his tenure, Mr. Carter oversaw the day-to-day administrative and operational functions, and successfully led efforts to right size the operation’s annual production capacity. In his previous roles, Mr. Carter held general management positions and oversaw operations at New Carlisle, a continuous cold-rolling and galvanizing plant; Riverdale compact strip mill; and the Minorca iron ore mine.

Mr. Carter is a past president of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) and an active member of the organization. He is an Honorary member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), an AIST Distinguished Member and Fellow and a recipient of the JE Johnson Award. He serves on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Board and is a past board member of the Indiana Manufactures Association. Mr. Carter earned a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University Northwest and a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from Iowa State University.

As Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Labor Relations, Mr. Fischer has executive responsibility for Cleveland-Cliffs' Human Resources and Labor Relations matters. His responsibilities include maintaining the Company’s highly valued relationships with its labor union partners and the positive workplace culture for its industry-leading workforce.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Fischer held senior leadership roles as Senior Vice President and Vice President of Human Resources since 2014. Mr. Fischer joined Cleveland-Cliffs’ Legal Department as Group Counsel, Labor Relations in 2010 where he served in various management positions.

Before his tenure with Cleveland-Cliffs, Mr. Fischer was a partner with the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science, summa cum laude, from Ohio University and a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University.