Tata Steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair named chair of UK Steel
Tata Steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair named chair of UK Steel
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Tata Steel UK chief executive Rajesh Nair has been appointed as the new Chair of UK Steel, the trade body representing the UK’s steel industry.
The appointment, announced today, will see Nair take on the role alongside his existing responsibilities leading Tata Steel UK. With more than 36 years’ experience across the Tata Steel Group, he is expected to bring a global perspective and technical expertise to the position at what the industry describes as a “pivotal moment”.
Since joining Tata Steel UK as chief operating officer in 2021 and becoming CEO in 2023, Nair has overseen the company’s transition towards low-carbon steelmaking and worked to secure the future of domestic steel production in South Wales and beyond.
A graduate in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), his career has included senior operational and commercial roles across the Tata Steel Group, from managing the Cold Rolling Mill complex at Jamshedpur to helping integrate the Corus Group following Tata Steel’s 2007 acquisition. He has also led major transformation programmes across global sites.
Commenting on his appointment, Nair said: “It is an honour to be appointed Chair of UK Steel at such a pivotal moment for the industry.
This is a period of profound change – with significant challenges, but also real opportunities to strengthen the sector for the long term. I look forward to working with UK Steel members and stakeholders to help secure that future – working closely with Government on its Steel Strategy and addressing structural issues such as uncompetitive energy costs and the growing threat of high-emission steel imports.”
UK Steel director-general Gareth Stace welcomed the appointment, saying: “The appointment of Rajesh as Chair of UK Steel is excellent news for both UK Steel and our industry as a whole.
Rajesh will bring a wealth of experience across both the global and UK steel industry to this role. His appointment could not have come at a better time as our industry looks to modernise and grow as Government prepares to publish its Steel Strategy this autumn.”
Nair also serves on the board of Tata Steel UK and chairs Surahammars Bruks in Sweden. A Fulbright Scholar with advanced management training from Carnegie Mellon University and CEDEP-INSEAD, he is a recognised innovator in galvanised steel products, holding published research and patents.
Tata Steel UK aims to achieve net-zero steel production by 2045, with a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions targeted by 2030. The company ended ironmaking at its Port Talbot site in October 2024 and is investing in a 3.2 million tonne per annum electric arc furnace, due to be operational in late 2027 or early 2028. In the meantime, slab and hot rolled coil will be imported to support manufacturing and distribution operations in the UK and overseas.
The Tata Steel Group is among the world’s largest steel producers, with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes and a consolidated turnover of around US$26 billion for the year ending March 2025.
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