Big River Steel Announces Leadership Changes After CEO’s Death

John Correnti, the visionary who guided the creation of three steel mills in Mississippi County and others outside Arkansas, died Tuesday in Chicago.

Correnti was leading Big River Steel to build a $1.3 billion mill in Osceola, Arkansas, near the Mississippi River.

The Big River Steel plant is scheduled to open in July 2016.

Thus far, the company has given no indication as to the circumstances of Correnti’s death.

“I am saddened to learn of the death of John Correnti“. Jim joined Big River Steel shortly after its formation in 2014.

$10 million in training funds from the state and other incentives including sales tax refunds on building materials and equipment.

Dan Murray, a member of the board, was appointed as chairman of the board of directors.

Correnti was the architect of a steel plant under construction in Arkansas.

When completed, Big River will become the third major steel mill in the county joining the two mills operated by Nucor.

When Correnti found creative ways to overcome obstacles, he said he had “Nucorized” the problem, an attitude that Applebaum said contributed to Nucor’s growth as it competed with mills that had dominated since the domestic industry’s birth. “We talked about it every time we got together”. Kennemore says he expects the push for completion of the project to continue. “Certainly, he was the driving force but I don’t think his death will change the progress”.

Investors in the project include the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association and the Koch Brothers, which are said to be the largest investors in the group.

Information for this article was contributed by Michael R. Wickline of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.