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PPG Promotes 3 Execs as 1 Departs

Friday, August 31, 2012

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PPG Industries has expanded the duties of three of its top executives, while a fourth has left the company. The changes, announced Aug. 24, affect protective and marine coatings, aerospace products, automotive refinish, and other key regional and global businesses.

From left: Viktor R. Sekmakas will head PPG’s global protective and marine business; Michael H. McGarry will add aerospace products and automotive refinish; and Cynthia A. Niekamp will oversee the Latin America region. Pierre-Marie De Leener is exiting the company.

Protective and Marine Changes

Effective Sept. 1, senior vice presidents Viktor R. Sekmakas and Michael H. McGarry will be appointed executive vice presidents and join PPG’s executive committee.

Sekmakas is currently SVP for Industrial Coatings and president of PPG Europe. He will also assume responsibility for PPG’s global protective and marine coatings business, in addition to his current oversight of the industrial and packaging coatings and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. He will continue to be based at PPG’s EMEA headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland.

McGarry, currently SVP for Commodity Chemicals, will add responsibility for the company’s global aerospace products and automotive refinish businesses as well as the Asia Pacific region and global information technology function. McGarry also leads PPG’s environment, health and safety function. He will be based at PPG’s global headquarters in Pittsburgh.

Automotive Additions…

Cynthia A. Niekamp, senior vice president for automotive OEM coatings, will add oversight of the company’s Latin America region to her current responsibilities. She will continue to be based at PPG’s Automotive OEM coatings business headquarters in Troy, MI.

All three executives will continue to report to Chairman and CEO Charles E. Bunch.

“These executives have demonstrated strong performance in leading their respective businesses and functions in a complex, global environment, and I am confident that they will continue to contribute significantly to PPG’s business success in these key leadership roles,” Bunch said.

…And Subtractions

PPG also announced that executive vice president Pierre-Marie De Leener would leave the company effective Oct. 31. No reason was given for De Leener’s departure.

De Leener joined PPG with the acquisition of SigmaKalon in January 2008, having previously served as that company’s CEO. Before his current role, De Leener was responsible for PPG’s architectural coatings – EMEA business and the EMEA region.

He has been responsible for PPG’s global automotive refinish, aerospace products, and protective and marine coatings businesses, in addition to the Latin America region.

“Pierre-Marie played an instrumental role in the successful integration of SigmaKalon, which has been a key strategic milestone for PPG,” Bunch said.

“Since that time, Pierre-Marie has continued to provide strong guidance to several PPG businesses and has strengthened the foundation for operational excellence and profitable growth in the Latin America region. I thank him for his many contributions to PPG’s success and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Founded in 1883, PPG is the world’s second-largest paint and coatings company, with 2011 sales of $14.9 billion.