Executive Bios

ARMANDO PLASTINO
Chief Executive Officer

Armando Plastino is a graduate of Ryerson University with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology.  He began his career with Algoma Steel in 1972.  Since then, he has served in a series of varied and progressive positions including superintendent of electrical maintenance, superintendent of maintenance, director of plate business, director of sheet business, general manager of flat roll operations, vice president operations and most recently, as chief operating officer. Mr. Plastino was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Essar Steel Algoma on March 27, 2009.

PRAMOD KUMAR SHUKLA
Chief Operating Officer

Pramod Shukla has been with the Essar Group since 2003 as Vice President of Cold Rolling Mill and Downstream Complex.  At Essar he has led the projects and operations functions. Previously he was with Tata Steel where he worked in a variety of roles and acquired deep knowledge and experience in flat roll operations, project management, equipment manufacturing for major projects, system automation, business process reengineering, TQM and quality systems.  

Pramod is a mechanical engineer from the Institute of Technology, Varanasi, India with a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur, India.  As Chief Operating Officer at Algoma he assumes accountability for the performance of all operational areas including central services, supply chain management and environment, safety and emergency services.

AMIT AGARWAL
Chief Financial Officer

Amit Agarwal joined the Essar Group in November 2007.  He has over eighteen year's experience in the steel industry, most recently with Arcelor Mittal where he served as Chief Financial Officer of the European Business Segment accountable for the effective integration of seventeen facilities with a goal to maximize the profitability of the segment.  Prior to the merger, Amit was the Chief Financial Officer for Mittal Steel Germany.   

Amit has a wealth of experience with complex business restructuring, strategic financial planning and product-market mix optimization on an international scale.  A graduate of Wharton's executive program for Chief Financial Officers as Strategic Partners, he is a chartered accountant with a degree in commerce.

In his current role Mr. Agarwal is focused on supply chain optimization with overall accountability for all financial and logistics functions.

VICTORIA CHIAPPETTA
Vice President, Legal

Victoria Chiappetta graduated from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School in 1993.  She began her legal practice with a focus on commercial and civil litigation.  In 2001, she opened the Sault Ste. Marie branch office of Mathews, Dinsdale and Clark LLP, a practice restricted to labour and employment law.  She went on to serve as Director of Labour for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation until she joined Algoma Steel in 2007.

Ms. Chiappetta's tribunal experience spans many bodies including, but not limited to, the Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Commission and the Workplace Safety and Appeals Tribunal.

She has appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.  In 2006, she was appointed Deputy Small Claims Court Judge.  Ms. Chiappetta is a member of the Algoma District Law Association and the Ontario Bar Association.

ROBERT W. DIONISI
Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Rob Dionisi began his career at Algoma Steel in 1979 and has held a number of varied and progressive positions within the commercial group, most recently as Director of Sales and previously as General Manager Plate & Shape Sales, and General Manager Service Centre & Fabrication Sales & Marketing.  He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Laurentian University and is an active member of the Metals Service Centre Institute and the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction where he serves as a director on the Board.  In his current role Rob assumes accountability for all sales and marketing activities and the administration of Algoma's commercial offices in Calgary, Alberta, and Burlington, Ontario where he is based.

MARK NOGALO
Vice President, Operations

Mark Nogalo has been with Algoma since 1987 in a host of varied and progressive roles, most recently as Vice President, Major Projects, Engineering, Construction and Services.  His expertise lies in energy management, asset reliability and the execution of capital projects.  A professional engineer, Mark holds a Masters in Business Administration from Lake Superior State University and an undergrad in mechanical engineering from Queens University.  As Vice President of Operations, Mark assumes accountability for primary and flat roll operations and quality and technical services in addition to a multitude of capital projects associated with Essar Steel Algoma's expansion to 4 million tons.