Moscow, Russia – June 3, 2011 - Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces the appointment of a new Managing Director of its subsidiary Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant OAO.

Rashid Nugumanov, 53, was appointed Managing Director of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant effective June 3, 2011. He succeeds Sergei Malyshev, whose experience and knowledge will be used in the company’s headquarters.

Mechel-Steel Management Company OOO’s Chief Executive Officer Andrey Deineko noted that “Sergei Malyshev has worked at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant OAO for nearly six years and in that time succeeded in cutting costs and improving the plant’s efficiency. With him at the helm, the plant implemented several key investment projects, which enabled the enterprise to work very efficiently. The anti-crisis program he pursued in late 2008 and early 2009 made Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant one of the first enterprises in the industry to exceed its pre-crisis production levels, maintain its social policies and continue with investment projects, which is further proof of Mr. Malyshev’s superior managerial skills.

“With his transfer to the company’s headquarters, Mr. Malyshev will focus on handling strategic issues, which we pose to this manager with rich experience in creating an efficient system for managing economic activities of an enterprise.

“I am sure that Rashid Nugumanov will be able to continue his predecessor’s work and tackle new challenges facing the plant. He has extensive practical experience in the steelmaking industry and proved himself to be a high-class specialist, an efficient manager with a long record. We also find it positive that Mr. Nugumanov has worked for 20 years on Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, working his way from a steel caster in the oxygen converter shop to a first deputy production director, and so is thoroughly versed in all of the plant’s specifics.”

Mr. Nugumanov began his professional career at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, where he worked in 1981-1999, starting as a steel caster in the plant’s oxygen converter shop and working his way up to the plant’s first deputy director of operations. In 1999-2005, he worked at Zlatoust Metallurgical Plant, where at different times he occupied the posts of first deputy general director and general director. In 2006-2009, he was managing director of West Siberian Iron and Steel Plant owned by Evraz Group. In August 2009, he returned to Zlatoust Metallurgical Plant to become its managing director. In August 2010, he was appointed general director of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant.

Mr. Nugumanov graduated from Urals Polytechnic Institute’s metallurgy department. He took part in implementing a large number of new grades of steel, several new steelmaking techniques and manufacturing machines. He is the author of several inventions and an active rationalizer. In 2001, he was awarded the title of “Meritorious Metallurgist” of Russian Federation. Mr. Nugumanov is also a laureate of Russian government’s 2009 award in science and technology.