Editor’s note: The following industry professionals have recently received promotions or appointments. 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.
Oxea has announced the appointment of Ed Ray as CFO. He will lead the company’s long-term financial strategy, focusing on driving sustainable growth and maximizing shareholder value.
With more than 25 years of financial leadership experience in the global chemicals industry, Ray most recently served as CFO at OCI Methanol. Prior to that, he spent 18 years at Ecolab Inc., holding a variety of senior finance positions with increasing global responsibility.
Orion S.A. has announced that CFO Jeff Glajch will step down early in the fourth quarter of 2025. Glajch will continue to support Orion through the end of the year while a search is launched to identify his successor.
Michael Friede, CEO of Brenntag Specialties and a member of the Board of Management of Brenntag SE, will leave the company on good terms on November 30, 2025, and take on new management responsibilities outside of Brenntag. The company’s Supervisory Board has initiated the orderly succession process.
PPG has appointed Joe Gette, currently vice president, deputy general counsel, and secretary, as senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary, effective January 1, 2026. He will join the company’s operating and executive committees, reporting to PPG chairman and CEO Tim Knavish.
Gette will succeed Anne M. Foulkes, current senior vice president and general counsel, who announced her intent to retire. Effective January 1, Foulkes will serve as senior vice president, legal and special projects, to ensure a smooth transition of general counsel responsibilities and oversee certain projects for the company. She will continue to report to Knavish in this new executive leadership role.
Vortex Companies has promoted Ram Vela to chief strategy officer. Vela will be responsible for shaping and institutionalizing the company’s long-term strategic vision, and aligning growth initiatives across domestic and international markets. Vortex Companies is a global company offering trenchless water and sewer infrastructure solutions, including the manufacture of specialty mortars, polymeric coatings resins and cured-in-place-pipe liners. Vela’s promotion comes as the company continues to expand its global footprint through both organic and acquisitive efforts.
RPM International Inc. has named Matthew E. Schlarb as vice president—investor relations and sustainability, and Paul R. Darwin as vice president—procurement.
Schlarb joined RPM in 2022 as senior director—investor relations. His new responsibilities will include oversight of RPM’s Building a Better World sustainability initiative. Prior to joining RPM, he was vice president of investor relations at Lottery.com Inc.
Darwin, who has been with RPM for 17 years, will focus on executing the company’s multi-year global procurement strategy, as well as directing all activities of the corporate procurement function and providing direction to operating company purchasing teams.
Bodo Möller Chemie has appointed Jason Blyth as managing director for South Africa and Kenya. Blyth will coordinate business operations for the company’s business units in East and Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to expand the company’s regional presence for the long term and consolidate its position as a specialty chemicals provider in the region.
Blyth has over 20 years’ experience in chemicals distribution, including positions focused on strategic sales, market development, and cultivating client relationships. His purview has primarily revolved around chemical raw material solutions, especially coatings, adhesives, and formulated systems.
Covestro appointed Annie Chen, current head of Supply Chain and Logistic For Taiwan, Korea, New Zealand, and Australia, as managing director of Covestro Taiwan. Chen succeeds Carsten Wildebrand, who will return to the company’s headquarters in Germany.
Chen began at Covestro in 1996 at Covestro Taiwan’s predecessors, Bayer Taiwan and Bayer MaterialScience Taiwan. She has held diverse roles including sales, procurement, customer service, logistics, as well as Head of Supply Chain Center for Covestro Greater China.
Barentz has named Camiel Huisman new regional managing director for Central Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Huisman will provide strategic leadership across the region, working closely with local teams to ensure consistent and effective operations, aligned with Barentz’s values and local market needs. He will also serve as the legal representative for the EMEA countries.
Huisman’s experience in specialty distribution includes multiple commercial leadership roles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.