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MCI Expert Consultant Network

Our international network of metals and mining industry experts brings together seasoned professionals with 20-55+ years of specialized experience spanning the complete metals value chain. Each consultant delivers deep technical knowledge, extensive global project experience, and demonstrated expertise in providing authoritative guidance for complex commercial and technical challenges. Our team maintains current industry intelligence through active project work and ongoing involvement in significant metals sector developments worldwide.

Our Expert Consulting Team

Dave Edwards

Steel Operations & Project Management Expert

Qualifications & Background

BSc (Hons) Metallurgy, Manchester University
55+ years metals industry experience since 1969
Former Project Director, Heavy Industries - WS Atkins

Senior Management Experience

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

Areas of Expertise

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

Alan Grimmond

Senior Metals Industry Consultant

Qualifications & 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 Experience

Project Coordinator and Group Director, McLellan & Partners (1997-2019)
Delivered 45+ steel market assignments spanning all major global regions
Technical Advisor to IFC/World Bank for metals industry development projects
Project Director: 6 Mt/y expansion feasibility study - JSW Steels integrated works, India
Plant Manager: Welkom Gold Plant (200,000 t/month ore processing facility)
Completed 20+ steel asset valuations ranging from US$50m to US$5b since 2004

Areas of Expertise

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

Steven W. Hesling

Flat Products Manufacturing Specialist

Senior Industry 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 Awards (2003, 2006) - Galvanizers Association

Technical Leadership & Achievements

Led development and qualification of Automotive Exposed products
Technical specialist in GALVALUME® (Al/Zn) coating technology
Managed operations of 4 state-of-the-art lines with 2+ million tons annual capacity
Advanced computer modeling for Hot Mill Furnaces and thickness control systems using cost optimisation models
Leading authority on temper mill roughness control technologies
Authored comprehensive technical studies on hot charging optimization for energy efficiency. View our steel plant operating cost models.

Areas of Expertise

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

James F. King

Senior Economic Expert & Expert Witness

Qualifications & Background

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

Industry Recognition & Authority

Maintains comprehensive global steel plant capacity database covering 4,500+ facilities worldwide
OECD Steel Committee recognized authority on global steel capacity analysis
Cost modeling expertise serving Big 4 accounting firms, major management consultancies, and leading steel producers
Top 5% expert ranking in leading professional consultative network (200,000+ experts)
40+ legal cases since 1982 in international arbitrations across multiple jurisdictions
Cross-examination testimony experience at tribunals in London, Singapore, Paris, and New York

Recent Publications (2026)

World Capacity & Production - Flat & Coated Products Analysis
World Capacity & Production - Steel Long Products Report
World Capacity & Production - Crude Steel Capacity Assessment
Commodity freight cost analysis and steel industry statistics

Conference Presentations

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

Areas of Expertise

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

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 consulting experience in Saudi Arabia and Middle East region

Middle East 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 advisory for steel plant investments in Saudi Arabia (2013) - view our due diligence services
Feasibility studies for cold rolling mills and galvanizing facilities

Areas of Expertise

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

Peter Stickland

Steel Distribution & Construction Specialist

Professional Background

35+ years experience in steel and construction product sectors
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 Corus
Strategic assessment and turnaround management for steel mills as acquisition targets
Commercial and marketing strategy development for downstream 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 across Central and Eastern Europe

Areas of Expertise

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

Dr. Andrzej M. Kotas

Managing Director, MCI & Lead Strategy Consultant

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 Limited (2003-present)
Senior Consultant, Hatch Associates (world's largest steel consulting engineering firm) and previously Beddows & Company (steel strategy consulting) 1990-2001
Founder & CEO, Steelonthenet.com (2002-present) - leading steel industry intelligence portal
Founder, SteelExpertWitness.com (2017-present) - steel litigation support services
Steel market analysis specialist for Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa
EC advisory role in 1998 Polish steel industry restructuring programme including state aid review
Project Leader: Czech Republic steel restructuring assignments (1999, 2002)
Greenfield pre-feasibility study: 10Mt integrated steel mill - Government of Ethiopia
Due diligence for major steel sector acquisitions and investments
Media commentary: Featured expert in Financial Times, The Times, Le Monde, Sky News - view media citations

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 presentations at Metal Bulletin and international steel conferences (1996-2000)

Areas of Expertise

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

Our expert witness and advisory work is supported by 25+ years of strategic consulting experience spanning EU accession programmes, multi-billion dollar investments, and major industry restructuring projects across multiple continents. Learn more about MCI's global experience.

Contact MCI's metals industry experts for technical consulting, feasibility studies, market analysis, due diligence, expert witness services, and comprehensive commercial or techno-economic assessments.

For immediate consultation: +44 775 149 0885 | info@metalsconsultinginternational.com