TAMPA, FL - Gerdau Ameristeel (NYSE: GNA; TSX: GNA.TO) announced recently that Steven Hendricks has joined Gerdau Ameristeel as director, corporate communications and public affairs. Steven will be instrumental in helping promote and position Gerdau Ameristeel externally. His focus will be media relations, government affairs, brand management, and community relations. He will work in the corporate executive office in Tampa, FL and report to Mario Longhi, president and CEO.

Steven joins Gerdau Ameristeel following a notable communications and public affairs career with such companies as Motorola, Inc. in Chicago; Xerox Corporation in Rochester, NY; Compaq Computer Corporation in Houston, TX; AT&T in Dallas, TX; and Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO. Steven also served as an assistant to the governor of Kansas in Topeka, KS.

“Having an experienced corporate communications professional such as Steven Hendricks is an extraordinary win for us,” said Mario Longhi, president & CEO, Gerdau Ameristeel. “We believe that Steven is a valuable addition to our executive management team and he brings a tremendous amount of depth and experience in all aspects of corporate communications to the company. His insight will help Gerdau Ameristeel become better known in the global steel industry.”

Steven holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), and the National Fatherhood Institute.

Steven and his family will relocate to the Tampa Bay area from Chicago.

About Gerdau Ameristeel

Gerdau Ameristeel is the second largest mini-mill steel producers in North America with annual manufacturing capacity of more than nine million tons of mill finished steel products. Through its vertically integrated network of 17 mini-mills, 17 scrap recycling facilities and 51 downstream operations, Gerdau Ameristeel serves customers throughout the United States and Canada. The company’s products are generally sold to steel service centers, steel fabricators, or directly to original equipment manufacturers for use in a variety of industries, including construction, automotive, mining and cellular and electrical transmission. It is found in bridges, highways, stadiums, and commercial and apartment buildings. The common shares of Gerdau Ameristeel are traded on the New York Exchange under the symbol GNA and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol GNA.TO. For additional company information and investor information, visit www.gerdauameristeel.com.