Mr Stephen of Aluminum Association retire at end of 2011

Mr J Stephen Larkin president of Aluminum Association announced to the Association’s Board of Directors that he will retire at the end of 2011. Mr Larkin joined the Association in 1998.

Aluminum Association chairman Mr Steven J Demetriou, chairman and CEO of Aleris is leading a search committee to identify Mr Larkin’s successor. He said that while the board of directors is sorry to be losing such an outstanding leader this is a well earned retirement. Mr Steve has remade the Association into a lean cost effective organization that provides real value to its members.

Mr Larkin said that “This has been a great 13 years. I am extremely proud of what our volunteer leaders, member companies and the Association’s staff have accomplished. Together we have taken aluminum’s sustainability message to customers, policymakers and media all over the world. It has been a privilege to work with the best executive leaders in the industry and the dedicated professionals at the Aluminum Association.”

Under Mr Larkin’s leadership, the Aluminum Association achieved a global reputation and became a strong voice for balanced legislative and regulatory policies for ensuring the global competitiveness and environmental stewardship of the United States aluminum industry. Other Aluminum Association accomplishments during Larkin’s tenure as president include:

1. Restructuring of Association governance, including the establishment of a strategic planning committee of the Board of Directors

2. A renewed emphasis on workplace safety and on industry wide temper and alloy standards

3. Leadership in the Asia Pacific Partnership which links the United States aluminum industry with its counterparts in Asia Pacific countries and the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce and the US Environmental Protection Agency to reduce energy consumption and improve environmental performance in the Asia Pacific region

4. Establishment of a partnership with Mexico and Canada for data sharing which enabled statistical reports for the North American aluminum industry

5. Establishment of an Associate Member category; current Association membership is at 20 year high

5. Widespread global recognition of the sustainability of aluminum and the sustainability work of the aluminum industry.