Primetals Technologies Announces Leadership Changes: Yoshiharu Ikeda Appointed as CEO

Primetals Technologies has announced a major leadership transition, appointing Yoshiharu Ikeda as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2025. Ikeda, who currently serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will take over from Satoru Iijima, who will remain on the Board of Directors and continue as a Fellow Advisor. Alongside this change, Andreas Weinhengst has been named the new CFO, while Karl Purkarthofer will assume the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Experienced Leadership for a Transforming Industry

With a career spanning several decades in the metals industry, Yoshiharu Ikeda brings extensive leadership experience to his new role. Having held key positions within Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, he has managed global sales operations and previously served as CEO of Primetals Technologies USA. Since taking on the role of CFO at Primetals Technologies, he has played a crucial part in the company’s strategic direction.

Addressing the challenges and opportunities in the sector, Ikeda emphasized that the metals industry is undergoing significant transformation. He highlighted the company's commitment to sustainable metal production and pointed to projects such as HYFOR, Smelter, and the electrification of furnaces in rolling mills as key focus areas. He also underscored the importance of Arvedi ESP technology and the role of digitalization in emissions monitoring, process optimization, and robotics.

Reflecting on the appointment, Satoru Iijima stated that Ikeda has been instrumental in driving innovation within the company and expressed confidence in his leadership.

New CFO and COO Appointed

As part of the leadership restructuring, Andreas Weinhengst, who has served as CFO of Primetals Technologies Austria since 2018, will take over as the global CFO. With a career in the metals industry dating back to the early 1990s, Weinhengst has held key financial and commercial roles, including positions at Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau and Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, the predecessor of Primetals Technologies.

In addition, Karl Purkarthofer has been appointed as the company's first COO. In this role, he will oversee global operations in supply chain management, turnkey projects, engineering, manufacturing, project execution, quality management, and environmental, health & safety. However, individual business areas will retain responsibility for specific projects. Purkarthofer, who has held international leadership positions in Austria, the United States, and the United Kingdom, has extensive experience in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and service operations. In April 2024, he was named CEO of Primetals Technologies Austria, a role he will continue to hold.

With these executive appointments, Primetals Technologies aims to strengthen its strategic vision and operational efficiency as it navigates the evolving landscape of the metals industry.