Long-Serving Professionals to Navigate Crucial Crossroads
British Steel, one of the UK’s most essential industrial assets, has announced a change in leadership with the appointment of Allan Bell as interim Chief Executive Officer and Lisa Coulson as interim Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately. These appointments are aimed at ensuring stability, operational continuity, and experienced governance during a time of unprecedented intervention and transformation within the company.
Approved directly by the UK Secretary of State, these executive changes reflect the government’s intention to preserve British Steel’s critical role in national infrastructure and job creation, especially at the Scunthorpe steelworks, the company’s largest site.
Decades of Dedication Lead the Way
Both new appointees are veterans of British Steel, with deep roots in the organization and the region. Allan Bell has been with the company for 14 years, most recently serving as Chief Commercial Officer, while Lisa Coulson, who has worked for 19 years, previously held the position of Director of Marketing and Strategy.
Their internal promotions are being widely seen as a signal of stability and trust in institutional knowledge. The duo has been praised for their resilience and strategic thinking, especially during recent months when operations faced serious challenges due to raw material shortages, legal disputes, and leadership vacuums.
Priorities: Raw Materials, Workforce Stability & Health Safety
In his first public statement as interim CEO, Allan Bell laid out a clear three-point agenda:
1. Securing raw materials like coke, coking coal, and iron ore pellets for blast furnace operations.
2. Ensuring the presence of skilled personnel to operate and manage the furnaces safely and efficiently.
3. Upholding the highest health and safety standards for all employees at the Scunthorpe site.
He emphasized the need for strong coordination between British Steel’s workforce, trade unions, and government representatives, stating:
“Our sole focus is ensuring a secure and sustainable future for British Steel’s production in Scunthorpe… We look forward to working in partnership with our colleagues in government, the trade unions and the workforce here in Scunthorpe.”
Timed With Government Rescue Mission
This leadership announcement comes shortly after the UK Government intervened by settling payments to unload essential raw materials at Immingham port, thus preventing a complete halt in furnace operations. A ship from the US delivered iron ore pellets and a second vessel from Australia carrying coking coal is en route, following the resolution of a legal dispute involving British Steel’s parent company Jingye.
The materials have been paid for using existing Department for Business & Trade (DBT) budgets. Emergency legislation passed recently has given the government the authority to:
• Order raw materials,
• Direct the board and workforce,
• Ensure salary payments,
• Or carry out these actions directly if necessary.
Infrastructure Dreams Rest on a Steel Backbone
The changes in leadership and the government’s intervention are part of a broader strategy to protect over 37,000 jobs in British Steel’s supply chain. The government has linked British Steel’s future to the “Plan for Change,” which aims to drive national renewal through massive investments in housing, transport, healthcare, and education.
Steel from Scunthorpe is expected to play a vital role in building:
• 1.5 million new homes
• New railway systems
• Schools and hospitals
• Large-scale green infrastructure projects
With demand forecasted to rise sharply, ensuring uninterrupted furnace operation is critical not only for British Steel but for the entire UK industrial ecosystem.
Governance Meets Grassroots: A Partnership Model
The appointments of Bell and Coulson reflect a leadership model grounded in experience, local engagement, and institutional trust. Unlike external hires, these insiders are well-acquainted with the plant’s daily operations, workforce morale, and community significance.
Their deep roots in the Scunthorpe operation also make them ideal collaborators with trade unions, government taskforces, and supply chain partners, bringing a sense of continuity and credibility at a time when outside confidence in British Steel’s resilience is being closely monitored.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Allan Bell appointed interim CEO, and Lisa Coulson appointed interim Chief Commercial Officer of British Steel.
• Both leaders are long-serving employees, with 14 and 19 years of experience respectively.
• Leadership changes approved by the Secretary of State to ensure operational stability at the Scunthorpe site.
• Main priorities:
o Secure essential raw materials like iron ore pellets, coke & coking coal.
o Retain & support skilled workers for blast furnace operation.
o Uphold health & safety standards for all employees.
• Appointments follow UK Government intervention to resolve supply chain issues and legal disputes.
• Emergency materials shipment from US and Australia secured using existing DBT budgets.
• New legislation allows government to intervene in board decisions, pay workforce, and direct operations if needed.
• Appointments strengthen collaboration with trade unions and local stakeholders.
• British Steel’s output critical to 1.5 million home builds, rail projects, hospitals & schools under Plan for Change.
• Over 37,000 jobs linked to British Steel’s supply chain safeguarded by government efforts.
