Senior international metals and mining executive Michael Morley, who has led multi-million dollar transformation programmes in the industry worldwide over the past 20 years, has been appointed to spearhead a drive by the GFG Alliance into the Australian market.

Michael, who is from Melbourne, will be GFG’s development director for Australia, following a decade with Nyrstar, the Belgian-listed global leader in mining and multi-metal processing, where he was senior vice-president for metals processing.  He was responsible for operations employing around 3,000 people at seven sites in Europe, USA and Australia and led the US$500m flagship project to completely revitalise the ageing Port Pirie lead smelter in South Australia.

Previously a corporate lawyer with Clayton Utz and in-house counsel for Smorgon Steel, he has been at the forefront of a whole succession of major acquisitions, investments and redevelopments in metals and mining.

As a respected specialist in mergers, acquisitions and restructures, he has a track record of success in securing and implementing high-profile deals for the industry across the globe, most running into hundreds of millions of dollars. He played a key role in the US$1.2 billion merger between the Smorgon Steel Group and OneSteel.

His extensive experience at senior level in the sector covers a wide range of metals, including steel, zinc, lead, silver and gold and encompasses both primary production and steel recycling.

He joins the GFG Alliance as its member companies, Liberty House and SIMEC, step up their efforts to secure and develop steel, energy and mining assets in Australia. This follows a vigorous 2016 investment drive which saw them spend around US$620million to acquire metals and energy assets in the UK.

Michael said: “There are big opportunities in Australia for metal producers who have ambition and innovative business models. The GFG Alliance has a bold and imaginative vision for a vertically-integrated and sustainable steel business that encompasses mining, liquid metal production, engineering and distribution and which also includes metal recycling and the use of renewable energy. It’s an exciting strategy that they are already pursuing successfully in the UK and I relish the prospect of taking on such a challenge in Australia and internationally.”

Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of the GFG Alliance said: “It is wonderful that Michael is joining the team given his achievements in the metals sector. We’re looking forward to working with him to establish a firm foothold in Australia and grow a market-leading business there.”