From the ground up: a CEO’s path to building people and transforming business

Amit Kumar’s career is a masterclass in technical and cross-functional leadership, adaptability, and global experience. From his early days at the Bhilai Steel Plant in India to leading ArcelorMittal Construction as chief executive officer (CEO) of the cluster Asia and steel division, Amit’s journey reflects the opportunities and challenges that shape a global leader.

“I started my career in 2001 with the Steel Authority of India Limited after an engineering degree in metallurgy. Working in the steel melting shop gave me a solid foundation in metallurgy and the dynamism required in operations.” After completing his MBA, he joined ArcelorMittal in 2008 beginning a transformative chapter in his career in Luxembourg. “I was just 28, and it was a big leap. But ArcelorMittal has always been a place where talent is spotted and given opportunities.

Over almost two decades, Amit has held five impactful roles within ArcelorMittal, each expanding his scope and sharpening his leadership. From continuous improvement in the CTO department to the transformation of ArcelorMittal’s Romanian plant as CEO, his career has been marked by bold decisions and a hands-on approach in executing several strategic initiatives. “We grew the Romanian business fivefold in volume, reduced the cost of steel making, developed high-margin products and expanded business in the Balkans, Turkey and Middle East, which all resulted into a strong profit within just two years of time.”

After his experience in Romania, Amit took on the chief operating officer (COO) role at ArcelorMittal’s Steel Service Centers (SSC) which was pivotal. He launched the Smart Factory initiative and a transformation project called ‘Converge’ to ensure sustainability and competitiveness, focusing on cost, quality and productivity improvements. In 2019, Amit joined ArcelorMittal Construction, where he again drove transformation, this time across product lines, geographies, and commercial strategies. “We launched 78 strategic initiatives, entered new markets like the UK and India, and developed a strong multi-year growth plan adding new production lines, reducing costs, developing a renewed sourcing approach of raw materials, a high-added value (HAV) mix, and growing a profitable market share.”

Amit is currently spearheading ArcelorMittal Construction’s expansion in India, building a greenfield plant near Mumbai and planning further sites in the North and South of India. “It’s a startup within a global group and hence very entrepreneurial,” he says. “We’ve grown from one person in 2023 to 50 today, with two plants operational by mid-2025.”

Empowering through leadership

Amit’s leadership style is rooted in empowerment and learning by executing exciting projects. “The growth of the team is the growth of the leader,” he emphasises. “I’ve had and mentored many younger talents, who later became successful leaders themselves. That’s something I’m very proud of.” He believes in empowering teams and creating a culture of openness, inclusion, and diversity. “I want people who are humble, open-minded, and willing to learn at all stages of their professional career. I don’t need someone who knows everything, I need someone who’s ready to grow.”

Staying inspired

When asked what motivates him daily? “Doing something creative, innovative and meaningful,” Amit says. “I’m always thinking about the next 10 years, how to improve, who to develop, what to build.” To Amit, staying in touch with his engineering roots, means being hands on and open to learning. “You learn from everyone, from the shop floor to the boardroom. When I joined the construction business, I didn’t even know what a sandwich panel was. But I stood in front of the line, talked to the operators, and learned.”

Why global experience matters

Amit believes that his international experience has been instrumental in making him the leader he is today. “Each culture teaches you something different. You must adapt your work and leadership style, there’s no one-size-fits-all. You have to adapt, listen, and lead accordingly. That flexibility is key to being effective.” Amit encourages young professionals to embrace mobility. “You are the first actor in your career, and one must invest in developing their career to reap the benefits later. Take on tough assignments, move across businesses - ArcelorMittal is a platform where you can grow globally.”

The road ahead

Looking ahead, Amit is excited about the future of ArcelorMittal Construction, he sees it doubling in size and expanding into the U.S., Brazil, and Asia. “We have over a century of knowledge in Europe. Now it’s time to take that global,” he says.

He ends with a clear message to young professionals: ArcelorMittal is not just a steel company, it’s a place where technical professionals can build purposeful, global careers. “If you’re driven by learning, innovation, and impact, this is the place to be.”

To learn more about ArcelorMittal Construction and discover a career for you: click here.