About

With more than decade of legal experience in the steel industry, Andre Areno first joined Gerdau in 2007 and became chief legal counsel and secretary to the board in 2016. A specialist in corporate law with substantial in-house legal experience. Areno is adept in overseeing all of the legal department’s drafting, M&A, energy, international trade, arbitration and litigation needs. Gerdau is the top producer of long steel in North and Latin America and one of the top suppliers in the world. Operating in 14 countries, with its headquarters in São Paulo, it is a major player in the industry producing 25 million metric tonnes of steel per year, and is one of the largest steel recyclers in Latin America. Areno’s outstanding leadership of the legal team has been important in the last few years due to the Brazilian economy’s difficulties, industrial action, and litigations the company has faced. Gerdau announced in September 2018 that it was founding a new company, in partnership with Group Tigre and Votorantim Cimentos, called Juntos Somos, to make a loyalty program for stores and vendors, a program that will require Arenos’ continual quality legal support.