THUNDER BAY – Mining – Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. have announced that Steven Raguz, executive vice president, corporate strategy and communications & chief strategy officer, will leave the Company effective May 1, 2013. Mr. Raguz is joining a private company in the Cleveland area as their chief financial officer.

Cliffs Natural Resources update

“We are grateful to Steve for his leadership in the organization over the past six years,” said Joseph Carrabba, Cliffs’ chairman, president and chief executive officer. “During this time, Steve played an important role in developing and implementing Cliffs’ strategy over the past several years. He has provided leadership in building the Company’s capital structure and was an integral part of Cliffs achieving an investment-grade rating.”

Mr. Raguz joined Cliffs in 2007 as vice president of financial planning. During his career at Cliffs, he assumed key executive management positions in the finance, strategy, treasury, communications and investor relations functions.

The Company stated that the strategy function will be realigned and now report into Cliff Smith, executive vice president, global business development and a member of Cliffs’ executive leadership team.