Business News
PPG names De Leener as senior vice president, architectural coatings, EMEA
Thursday 03. January 2008 - Former SigmaKalon chief executive officer to lead new segment
PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) today announced that it had named Pierre-Marie De Leener, former chief executive officer (CEO) of SigmaKalon Group, as PPG senior vice president, architectural coatings, Europe/Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The company stated that it had formed a new PPG strategic business unit (SBU), architectural coatings, EMEA, which will also be its own reporting segment. De Leener will report to Charles E. Bunch, PPG chairman and chief executive officer, and has joined PPGs Operating Committee. This announcement follows PPGs earlier announcement today that it had completed the acquisition of SigmaKalon Group, a worldwide coatings producer based in Uithoorn, Netherlands, from global private investment firm Bain Capital.
“Pierre-Marie is a proven leader whose background, expertise and insights will be a competitive advantage as PPG expands into additional markets around the world,” said Bunch. “His business will be its own reporting segment to enhance transparency regarding the performance of the SigmaKalon acquisition.”
A native of Antwerp, Belgium, De Leener joined Sigma Coatings Group, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1997 as chief operating officer (COO). He subsequently became CEO of Sigma Coatings Group in 1998 and CEO of the SigmaKalon Group in 1999.
Before joining Sigma, De Leener was general manager at Fina Research, Feluy, Belgium; CEO, Fina Italiana and Refinery, Rome; COO, Fina Italiana; regional manager, Fina Oil and Chemicals Company, Texas; marketing planning manager, Fina Oil and Chemicals; manager of production operations, Zairep, Zaire; and analyst at PetroFina, Brussels, Belgium.
He earned a masters degree in chemical engineering and complementary bachelors degrees in economical science and philosophical science all at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, and he has participated in wide-ranging post-graduate courses. De Leeners native language is French, but he also speaks English, Italian, Dutch and Spanish.