Lindner Alum Named New CEO of AK Steel

Roger Newport, who graduated from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business in 1988 with an accounting degree, has been tapped by AK Steel to lead the strategic vision of the local Fortune 500 company.

Newport succeeds the retiring James L. Wainscott, who has served as President and CEO since October of 2003 and Chairman of the Board since January of 2006. Wainscott will retire January 1, 2016, and will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors in a non-executive capacity.

Headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, AK Steel is a world leader in the production of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets.

Newport now joins the prestigious ranks of four other Lindner College of Business alumni who serve as CEOs at Fortune 500 and Fortune Global 500 companies. They are:

•     John Barrett, BBA '71, Hon '71, CEO of Western & Southern Financial Group

•     Carl Lindner III, BBA '75, Co-CEO of American Financial Group

•     S. Craig Lindner, BBA '77, Co-CEO of American Financial Group

•     Paul Polman, MA '79, Hon '09, CEO of Unilever

Newport started his career with AKSteel in 1985 in the accounting department. He advanced through a number of increasingly responsible finance, sales and marketing roles at the corporate headquarters and the company’s Middletown Works. He was named Controller in 2001, and Chief Accounting Officer in 2004.  He was named Vice President, Business Planning and Development in 2010, and Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer in 2012.  He was named Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer in 2014, and Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer in 2015.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Iron and Steel Institute and the World Steel Association, and Chairman of the Steel Market Development Institute CEO Group. He is also a member of the Board of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. He served as Group Chair, Special Projects for the 2014 United Way of Greater Cincinnati Campaign.