THE man chosen to lead Teesside steelmaking into a new era last night vowed to work in partnership with the region to make it a success.

Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo, Colin Muncie said he wanted to harness the "can-do" attitude of Teesside steelworkers.

The 46-year-old Scot was named by Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus as the managing director of Teesside Cast Products (TCP).

Corus, wracked by crippling debts, announced in April that it was establishing TCP as a stand-alone business that would compete to sell its products on the international market.

With this in mind, it created the managing director's post.

Mr Muncie said: "I want to build on the can-do mentality and make sure TCP is low-cost and supply-customer focused.

"I would like to get into post as quickly as possible and understand how the various stakeholders can contribute.

"One thing is clear, we will all have to work hard together to make Teesside successful."

Mr Muncie, a married father-of-two, will leave his post as director of Scunthorpe Cast Products in January to take up the role.

He outlined the skills he wanted to bring to the job: "Hard work, commitment and the capability to build on the successes achieved so far by the current management team at Teesside."

He said: "This is not a question of changing things, it is about enhancing and building on what is already there.

"In a nutshell, this is about harnessing the energy that we need to be successful.

"My immediate challenge is to meet as many people at TCP as quickly as I can. However, one thing is for sure, already I have seen a committed, capable workforce and I have no reason to worry that we should not be successful."

Mr Muncie has 25 years' experience in the steel industry.

He worked at Corus Engineering Steels, at Rotherham, where he became manufacturing director until his appointment as president and chief executive at the company's operations in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Corus also announced yesterday that commercial director Homi Sethna will be responsible for all semi-finished product commercial activities for both Corus Construction and Industrial and Teesside Cast Products.