MOSCOW, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces the appointment of Andrey Deineko as its Steel Division Director.

Andrey Deineko (54) will be in charge of developing Mechel's steel segment, carrying out operational management, planning, and controlling operations of Mechel's steel assets.

"We are very pleased that such a high level professional, who obtained an education in metallurgy and has extensive experience in various scientific, commercial, production, and government agencies, will join our team as our Steel Division Director. We are sure that his knowledge and experience will enable Mechel to develop and strengthen its steel business segment even more intensively and to efficiently implement capital investment programs at its subsidiaries, thus further enhancing our market position," Mechel Management OOO Chief Executive Officer Vladimir Polin said.

Prior to his appointment as Steel Division Director, Mr. Deineko held the position of Director of the Department of Industry in the Russian Ministry of Industry and Energy from 2005 to 2007, having been Deputy Director of this Department from 2004 to 2005. He was Director of the Department of Industrial and Innovative Policy in the Russian Ministry of Industry and Science from 2002 to 2004. From 1999 to 2002, he was Deputy General Director of Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant OAO. He held the position of Deputy General Director of INTERFIN Interbank Investment and Finance Company ZAO from 1998 to 1999 and Director of Supply Division of Zapad-Elite ZAO from 1997 to 1998. From 1976 to 1997, he was engineer, senior engineer, senior researcher, laboratory head, Department Head, and Deputy Director at the Bardin Central Scientific and Research Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy. He has been awarded the title of Honorable Metallurgist. Mr. Deineko graduated from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys with the specialty of Engineer of Metallurgy, and obtained his post-graduate degree in technical sciences from the same institute.

Mechel is one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore, nickel, steel, rolled products, and hardware. Mechel products are marketed domestically and internationally.

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

Ilya Zhitomirsky of Mechel OAO, +7-495-221-88-88, ilya.zhitomirsky@mechel.com