Editor’s note: The following industry professionals have recently received appointments or promotions. To submit your company’s personnel news for possible publication in CoatingsTech, email publications@paint.org with “Names in the News” in the subject line.
Canlak Coatings has announced the appointment of Laura Posadas as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Jim Coccagno, who has led the company since May 2022.
Posadas joins Canlak Coatings from the Matrix Adhesives Group, where she served as chief commercial officer, supporting the integration and directing the growth strategies of five private equity-backed specialty chemical companies. She has more than 20 years of leadership experience. She previously held leadership roles within the specialty chemicals industry, including president of Castrol Americas for BP and global business development director for Henkel.
In her new role, Posadas will focus on accelerating the company’s growth initiatives, improving operational efficiency, and further strengthening its position in the global market.
PPG has appointed Kevin Braun senior vice president of operations. Braun, who began his career at PPG in 1991, most recently served as senior vice president of the industrial coatings segment, succeeds Ram Vadlamannati.
Braun will lead the operations organization that includes PPG’s supply chain, operational excellence, manufacturing operations, procurement, and environment, health, and safety (EHS) functions. He will also maintain executive oversight accountability for packaging coatings, and specialty coatings and materials.
Braun will continue to report to Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and CEO, and serve on PPG’s operating committee. Knavish will directly oversee the automotive OEM and industrial coatings businesses, which remain part of the industrial coatings segment.
Allnex has appointed Jeff McManus as senior vice president, Americas. McManus joins allnex after an 18-year career at Clariant where he served in various leadership roles, most recently as head of Americas, Industrial Appliances, where he demonstrated the ability to drive growth and innovation across multiple segments and regions.
McManus holds an MBA from Auburn University.
Keyland Polymer Material Sciences has appointed Andrew Walton to vice president. Walton will manage all business operations of Keyland Polymer UV Powder, Keyland Polymer UV Systems, and DVUV Wood Powder Coating.
Walton joined the company in 2007 as a specifications representative for DVUV Wood Powder Coating. He most recently served as business development manager, North America & Asia Pacific for Keyland Polymer UV Powder, building the market for UV-cured powder coating applications in aerospace, automotive, recreational equipment, healthcare, and other industries.
IMCD has appointed Dongjoon Lee as managing director for IMCD in South Korea. Dongjoon, who joined IMCD in 2020 as business development director, has played a role in diversifying the company with the launch of IMCD’s Beauty & Personal Care, Coatings & Construction, Advanced Materials, and Food & Nutrition business units.
As managing director, Dongjoon will focus on expanding new and existing suppliers, exploring opportunities for M&As, further advancing the business’s digitalization, and more.
Prior to IMCD, Dongjoon spent more than 17 years in various roles within DKSH South Korea. Before DKSH, he worked for KOHAP, a petrochemical producer that was subsequently merged with BASF.
He holds a master’s degree in fine chemistry from Hanyang University, South Korea.