PPG promotes McGarry to COO

Michael H. McGarry, currently executive VP of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based PPG Industries, has been appointed to the post of chief operating officer.

McGarry will have executive oversight responsibility for all of PPG’s strategic business units and operating regions and for the information technology (IT), environment, health and safety (EH&S), and purchasing functions. He will remain based at PPG’s global headquarters in Pittsburgh and will continue to report to Chairman and CEO Charles E. Bunch.

“Michael’s experience and leadership have been instrumental in driving PPG’s transformation into the world’s leading coatings and specialty materials company,” Bunch said. “In this new role, Michael’s proven operational expertise and demonstrated ability to implement our business strategies will play a key role in our continued focus to deliver increased shareholder value.”

During his 33 years with PPG, McGarry has served in a variety of key business and functional leadership roles in the United States, Europe and Asia. In addition, he helped lead several strategic actions that have transformed PPG’s business portfolio, most notably the acquisition of SigmaKalon; the separation of PPG’s former commodity chemicals business; the acquisition of AkzoNobel’s North American architectural coatings business; and, most recently, the announced agreement to acquire Consorcio Comex, S.A. de C.V.

The promotion is effective Aug. 1.

McGarry joined PPG in 1981 as an engineer at the company’s Lake Charles, La., chemicals complex