OREANDA-NEWS. July 16, 2012. Gerdau's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andre B. Gerdau Johannpeter, received in Atlanta the Steel Maker of the Year Award in recognition of its entrepreneurial spirit, visionary leadership, support to research, and unwavering commitment to the steel industry. The title was delivered in the presence of over a thousand people and is an annual ceremony of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST), which is one of the main associations of steel producers and researchers in the world. The entity has currently 14,000 members and since 1975 has honored professionals who stand out for their excellence and contribution to the development of the steel industry.