Steel Industry Experts | MCI Network

Eight Named Experts | Fellows, Arbitrators and Industry Specialists

Our internationally recognised network of steel industry experts comprises seasoned professionals with 20-55+ years of specialised experience across the complete spectrum of steel operations, from raw materials to finished products. Each consultant brings deep technical expertise, extensive project experience, and proven track records in delivering authoritative analysis for complex industrial and legal challenges. Our experts maintain current industry intelligence through ongoing projects, recent publications, and active involvement in major steel industry developments worldwide. These same experts contribute strategic analysis to our Industry Insights Hub, providing authoritative commentary on critical industry developments.

Dave Edwards

Steel Mill Operations & Project Director

Academic & Professional Background

• Honours degree Metallurgy, Manchester University
• 55+ years experience since 1969
• Project Director, Heavy Industries - WS Atkins (5 years)

Key Leadership Positions

• General Manager: GST Steel, Kansas City (1 million tpy wire rod production)
• VP EAF Operations: Keystone Steel, Peoria (800,000 tpy wire rod)
• General Manager: United Gulf Steel, Saudi Arabia
• Project Manager: Celsa UK Cardiff (1.3 mtpy EAF meltshop construction)
• Casting Plant General Manager: Hadeed Steel, Jubail (1.8 mtpy billets)

Core Specialisations

• EAF Operations
• Long Product Mills
• Project Management
• Plant Valuation
• Feasibility Studies
• Due Diligence
• Performance Optimisation
• Steelmaking Operations

Roger Emmott

Practice Head, SteelExpertWitness

Academic & Professional Credentials

• BSc Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham
• MBA London Business School
• Chartered Engineer (C Eng), FIC, FIMMM, FCMI fellowships

Expert Witness & Consulting Experience

• Cross examination experience at Tribunals in London, The Hague, Singapore, Hong Kong
• Multi-client studies on automotive sector materials including AHSS and UHSS
• Due diligence for steel industry acquisitions and privatisations, and related industry research
• Feasibility studies for DRI/HBI investments
• Iron ore valuation disputes and mine assessments

Core Specialisations

• Expert Witness
• Iron Ore Valuation
• Steel Market Studies
• Due Diligence
• Automotive Materials
• Raw Materials
• DRI/HBI Technology
• International Arbitration

Alan Grimmond

Senior Steel Industry Consultant

Academic & Professional Background

• BSc (Hons) Metallurgy, Manchester University (1981)
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, Open University (2016)
• Associate Member Institute of Materials
• Licentiate Member Institute of Quality Assurance

Professional Leadership Experience

• Project Coordinator and Group Director, McLellan & Partners (1997-2019)
• Led delivery of 45+ steel market assignments across all continents
• Technical Advisor to IFC/World Bank for metals industry projects
• Project Director: 6 Mt/y expansion - JSW Steels integrated steelworks, India
• Plant Manager: Welkom Gold Plant (200,000 t/month ore processing)
• Completed 20+ steel asset valuations from US$50m to US$5b since 2004

Core Specialisations

• Market Studies
• Due Diligence
• Feasibility Studies
• Expert Witness
• Steel Valuation
• World Bank Projects
• IFC Advisory
• Financial Modelling

Steven W. Hesling

Steel Flat Products Manufacturing Expert

Senior Management Experience

• ThyssenKrupp Steel USA: Team Manager HDGL Quality & Technology (2011-2014)
• ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor: Operations Technology Manager (2008-2011)
• AHMSA Mexico: Senior Consultant to Director of Operations (2015-2016)
• Outstanding Author Award, 2003 and 2006 - Galvanisers Association

Technical Achievements

• Led development and qualification of Automotive Exposed products
• Specialist in GALVALUME® (Al/Zn) coating technology
• Managed 4 state-of-the-art lines with 2+ million tons per year capacity
• Advanced computer modelling for Hot Mill Furnaces and thickness control
• Leading authority on temper mill roughness control
• Hot charging optimisation analysis - authored comprehensive technical study on energy savings and productivity improvements

Core Specialisations

• Hot Rolling
• Cold Rolling
• Galvanising
• Automotive Steel
• Process Technology
• Quality Management
• Plant Start-up
• Coating Technology
• Hot Charging

James F. King

Senior Economic Expert & Expert Witness

Academic & Professional Background

• MA Economics, Cambridge University (1967)
• Former Bank of England economist
• Former Research Director, Commodities Research Unit Ltd
• 40+ years independent consulting since 1980

Industry Authority & Recognition

• Maintains global steel plant capacity database covering 4,500+ facilities
• OECD Steel Committee recognised authority on global steel capacity issues
• Cost modelling expertise for Big 4 accounting firms, major management consultancies, and steel producers - see EAF cost model, BOF cost model and commodity freight cost examples
• Top 5% expert ranking in leading consultative network (200,000+ experts)
• 40+ legal cases since 1982 in international arbitrations
• Cross-examination experience at tribunals in London, Singapore, Paris, New York

Recent Publications (2026)

• World Capacity & Production, Flat & Coated Products Capacity Report
• World Capacity & Production, Steel Long Products Capacity Report
• World Capacity & Production, Crude Steel Capacity Report
• Commodity freight costs, plant facility data, and other steel industry statistics

Conference Presentations

• "Steel Market Outlook" - MAGFORUM 2022, Magnesium Minerals & Markets Conference, Amsterdam (June 2022). Comprehensive analysis covering short-term market trends, long-term production forecasts to 2050, steelmaking process evolution, and implications for refractories consumption.

Core Specialisations

• Steel Economics
• Cost Benchmarking
• Market Analysis
• Expert Witness
• Capacity Analysis
• Price Forecasting
• International Arbitration
• Iron Ore Markets

Dr Andrzej M Kotas

Managing Director, MCI & Lead Strategy Expert

Academic Qualifications & Professional Status

• PhD King's College, London University (1978-1981)
• MBA Cranfield School of Management (1985-1986)
• BSc (Hons) First Class, King's College, London University
• Fellow of Institute of Consulting (FIC), Fellow FIMMM

Leadership Experience & Industry Recognition

• Managing Director, Metals Consulting International (2003+)
• Consultant, Hatch Associates (world's largest steel consulting engineer) and previously Beddows & Company (steel industry strategy consulting) 1990-2001. See British Steel strategic analysis
• CEO, SteelOnTheNet (2002+) - Founder of leading steel industry portal
• Founder, SteelExpertWitness.com (2017+) - Steel sector litigation support
• Expert in steel market analysis in Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa
• EC advisory role in 1998 Polish steel industry restructuring plan (including review of steel state aid)
• Project Leader: Czech Republic steel restructuring (1999, 2002)
• Greenfield pre-feasibility study: 10Mt integrated steel mill - Ethiopian Government
• Due diligence for major acquisitions - see M&A Database for transaction intelligence
• Media commentary: press reports in Financial Times, The Times, Le Monde, Sky News
• For more career information, see more detailed curriculum vitae.

Selected Publications & Recognition

• 'Steel in the New Europe: the impact of globalisation, accession and environmental policy' (Co-author, Metal Bulletin Research, 2004)
• 'Capital Investment Costs for Plant and Equipment in Iron and Steelmaking' (2010)
• Multiple keynote speeches at Metal Bulletin and other steel conferences (1996-2000)

Core Specialisations

• Steel Privatisation
• Industry Restructuring
• Feasibility Studies
• Expert Witness
• Due Diligence
• Market Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Investment Appraisal

Anthony G. Shoult

Middle East Markets Specialist

Professional Credentials

• BA Business Studies, Diploma in Marketing
• Fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing
• 30 years consultancy experience in Saudi Arabia and Middle East

Middle East Steel Industry Experience

• Director of Business Consultants International Group, Riyadh (1994-1998)
• Principal Consultant, WS Atkins Management Consultants (10 years)
• Middle East Series Editor for Global Market Briefings/Kogan Page Publishers
• Author: 'Doing Business with Saudi Arabia' (Four editions, 1999-2009)
• Acquisition assistance for steel plant in Saudi Arabia (2013)
• Feasibility studies for cold rolling and galvanising mills. See our feasibility appraisal page

Core Specialisations

• Middle East Markets
• Strategic Marketing
• Market Entry Strategy
• Technology Transfer
• Joint Ventures
• Industrial Marketing
• Regional Expertise
• Government Relations

Peter Stickland

Steel Distribution & Construction Sector Expert

Professional Background

• 35+ years experience in steel and construction product industries
• Former Development Director, Corus Building Systems
• Manager Business Development, Corus (2004-2009)

Industry Leadership Experience

• Led integration of building product companies into €5bn downstream division at UK steelmaker Corus
• Undertook strategic assessment and turnaround management studies for steel mills as acquisition targets
• Commercial and marketing strategy development for downstream steel operations across Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, and Scandinavia
• Global steel industry review for World Bank (IBRD) policy development
• Government of Western Australia regional steel industry policy formation
• Privatisation studies in Central and Eastern Europe. See our restructuring support page.

Core Specialisations

• Steel Distribution
• Construction Markets
• Building Products
• Market Development
• Supply Chain Strategy
• Corporate M&A
• International Expansion
• Joint Ventures

Our expert witness work is underpinned by 25+ years of strategic advisory experience spanning EU accession programmes, billion-dollar investments, and major restructuring projects. View our case studies demonstrating the depth of technical and commercial analysis that informs our expert testimony.