UK signs off on British Steel's appointment of interim CEO, CCO

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain approved British Steel's appointment of two of its long term employees to act as interim chief executive and chief commercial officer, the company said on Monday, after the government passed legislation at the weekend giving it control.

Britain passed an emergency bill on Saturday after the government said British Steel's owners, China's Jingye Group, had wanted to shut the furnaces at the Scunthorpe plant after rejecting a government funding proposal.

British Steel said on Monday that Allan Bell, who has worked at the Scunthorpe plant for 14 years, had been appointed interim chief executive, while Lisa Coulson, who worked at the site for 19 years, will act as interim chief commercial officer.

British Steel said the appointments had been signed off by a minister.

"Our sole focus is ensuring a secure and sustainable future for British Steel’s production in Scunthorpe," Bell said in a statement.

"Our immediate priorities are securing the raw materials we need to continue blast furnace operations, ensuring we have the dedicated personnel to run those furnaces, and maintaining the highest levels of health and safety for our workforce."

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Kate Holton)