Mark Bula appointed as new CEO of Blastr Green Steel

Mark Bula has 35-years of experience in the global steel industry, and takes over from Hans Fredrik Wittusen, who has led Blastr through the pre-feasibility stage. Mark will be based in Finland.

"Mark’s strategic vision, leadership skills and proven clean steel track record, will be invaluable assets as we continue to develop our projects and strategic platform together with customers, partners, and investors. Mark has delivered commercial development that has unlocked significant financing for start-up projects while developing go-to-market strategies in the Nordics, Europe, the Middle East, and the US,” said Lars-Eric Aaro, chairman and co-founder at Blastr. “This experience makes him ideal to lead Blastr into the next development stages, building upon the foundation laid by the Blastr team and partners to date".

“Global steel production needs to transform at scale to provide customers and end-users with decarbonized green steel. We are in the infancy of this transition which will fundamentally change how we make the world’s most important engineering and construction material,” stated Bula. “I am thrilled to join Blastr and its talented team in realizing the vast potential for carbon emission reductions at global scale and enable significant long-term value creation.”

Blastr is creating a low-carbon steel value chain with over 90% lower C0₂ emissions than conventional steelmaking by using hydrogen instead of coal in the production process and feedstock made with renewable energy.

“Inkoo in Finland is an ideal and unique location for producing ultra-low CO₂ steel products. The site provides strong grid connection for clean electricity, deep and ice-free harbour as well as short access to the attractive and growing European market of low emission steel”, Bula concluded.

Bula previously served as chief commercial officer at H2 Green Steel in Sweden and has been the chief revenue officer and chief commercial officer at Big River Steel. He will assume the position in May.

"It has been an honour to lead Blastr in a formative period. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident of the company's continued success under Mark's leadership," stated Hans Fredrik Wittusen.