10 Things You Didn’t Know about Nucor CEO John Ferriola

The President and CEO of Nucor is John Ferriola. The high ranking executive is well-known for his business savvy and his ability to successfully lead a large corporation and achieve growth. Much of Mr. Ferriola’s financial information and his business achievements are made transparent to the public, but there are things that most people who are not closely associated with him are unaware of. We find people who have made significant contributions to and achievements in business fascinating. Most have some unique stories, although they usually keep their personal lives private. John is one of those private individuals who keeps work and home life separate, but we discovered ten things about him that you probably didn’t know.

1. He has a bachelors degree

John attended the Maritime Academy of the State University of New York. While at college, he studied in the Electrical Engineering program. He graduated from the University and received his bachelor’s degree.

2. He belongs to an elite class of highly-talented executives

We’re seeing a trend in high-powered CEOs of major companies in that many of them do not go beyond their bachelor’s degree. While it used to be that a Masters or above was preferred, John fits into the category of talented professionals who had proven his abilities without the need for further academic studies. You might say that he’s a very savvy road warrior with some keen natural abilities.

3. He didn’t start out at the top with Nucor

John J. Ferriola has been with Nucor Corporation since 1991. When he first began his career with them, it wasn’t as an executive. He actually began as a manager of the Jewett, Texas bar mill in the Maintenance and Engineering department.

4. His first promotion came within 4 years

It’s fairly remarkable that after just four years with the massive corporation, John received his first promotion. His work at the Jewett, Texas location was recognized and he was promoted to the general manager of Nucor’s joist fabrication division in Grapeland, Texas. It was not even a full year in that position, that he was promoted to the position of vice president and general manager of the Norfolk, Nebraska bar mill.

5. John climbed the ladder from management into executive positions quickly

John was moved from the Norfolk, Nebraska bar mill to the Crawfordsville, Indiana sheet mill in 1998 and was named as vice president and general manager of this division. Looking at the number of moves that John had made, we see a pattern emerging and it’s obvious that Nucor was moving him around to different divisions of the operation to give him the experience needed in all phases of the business to one day assume a higher level position within the company. It appears that they were grooming him to become one of their homegrown executives. He served in these positions until the end of 2001.

6. 2002 was the year he joined the executive team at a higher level

After serving in a variety of management positions and as president over several divisions of Nucor operations plants, John was appointed as executive vice president. Five and a half years later, in September of 2007, Ferriola was named as the chief operating officer for Nucor’s Steel Making Operations. In January of 2011, he became a member of the board of directors.

7. He was announced as chief executive officer and president in November of 2012

Nucor made the announcement to their Board of Directors near the end of 2012 that John Ferriola was to become the chief executive officer and president of the company. His new position would be effective as of January 1, 2013. It was a long journey to the top, but John, who started out as the manager of several different areas of operation had worked his way up to the top level of management and leadership within the Nucor company, a grand feat by anyone’s standards.

8. He’s on the World Steel Association Board

John is actively involved with the World Steel Association (AIAI) and is currently serving in the position of Vice Chairman. He has served on the board of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) for more than twenty years and he’s also served on the board of directors.

9. President Trump appointed him to an executive committee

In January of 2017, President Donald J. Trump appointed John J. Ferriola to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers. It’s not just anyone who is requested to serve on this advisory committee. This shows the confidence that important decision makers have on his talents and abilities.

10. His annual salary is in the millions

John J. Ferriola is an executive within the Nucor Corporation who receives a high annual compensation package. When we checked into the amount that the 65-year-old executive who is in his business prime is making, we were shocked. For the 2017 Fiscal year, he earned a total compensation package of $12,090,470.