PPG announces industrial coatings leadership changes

PPG has appointed Juliane Hefel as senior vice president of industrial coatings and expanded leadership responsibilities of Xiaobing Nie to Asia Pacific.

Juliane Hefel, currently vice president of specialty coatings and materials (SCM), has been appointed senior vice president of industrial coatings in addition to her strategic and operational leadership of the global SCM business.

Hefel will report to Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and CEO, and will also become a member of PPG’s operating committee. Hefel joined PPG in September 2022 from Henkel, a multinational chemical and consumer goods company, where she held various leadership roles of increasing responsibility.

Hefel replaces Irene Tasi, currently PPG’s senior vice president of industrial coatings, who will become senior vice president and chief transformation officer. Tasi will continue to report to Knavish and remain on the company’s operating committee.

Xiaobing Nie, currently vice president of industrial coatings, China and global consumer products, and president of PPG Asia Pacific, will expand her leadership responsibilities with industrial coatings to now include all of Asia Pacific.

Nie will remain based in Shanghai and report to Hefel. She joined PPG in 2021 from DuPont, where she held several commercial and marketing positions, including Asia-Pacific leader for the company’s Shelter division.