Cliffs names P. Kelly Tompkins to lead position
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) announced today that P. Kelly Tompkins, 57, currently executive vice president, chief administrative officer & president, Cliffs China, has been appointed executive vice president, external affairs & president, global commercial. Tompkins will assume the expanded responsibility for leading Cliffs’ commercial group which includes global sales, marketing and logistics functions. Tompkins also will maintain executive oversight responsibility for Cliffs’ strategy and business development activities as well as its legal, government, environmental, sustainability, and risk activities worldwide. As previously announced, Donald J. Gallagher will retire effective December 31.
“Kelly brings a wealth of diverse knowledge and expertise from the global mining, chemicals and capital goods industries that is crucial for continuing to build our commercial and business relationships. In addition, he has well established relationships with various external constituents including, governments, the investment community, and global customers that are meaningful to our business,” stated Gary Halverson, president and chief operating officer. “I am confident that with Cliffs’ established sales and marketing team, Kelly will bring leadership and a fresh perspective to creating long-term growth opportunities through strategic customer alliances around the world.”
“During this transition, Mr. Gallagher is focused on ensuring the Company’s customers’ interests are seamlessly managed. We thank him for his long-standing dedication and commitment to Cliffs,” said Mr. Halverson.
Tompkins was appointed chief administrative officer for the Company in July 2013 with executive responsibility for the organization’s varied global administrative management functions. Tompkins oversees strategy and business development, public and government affairs, legal and environmental affairs as well as risk and internal audit.
Tompkins joined Cliffs in May 2010, having previously been executive vice president and chief financial officer for RPM International Inc., a NYSE-listed, global specialty chemical company. Prior to becoming RPM’s chief financial officer, Tompkins served as RPM’s chief administrative officer and previously as its general counsel. Before joining RPM in 1996, he held various legal and management positions with Cleveland-based Reliance Electric Company and Exxon Corporation in Houston, Texas including product marketing, business development, and investor relations.
Tompkins currently is currently engaged with a number of organizations in Northeast Ohio and a member of many not-for-profit boards.