Chief Operating Officer Tim Knavish will become PPG President and Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2023, and will also join the company’s board of directors immediately. He will replace Michael McGarry, who will become Executive Chairman until 1 October 2023, when he will retire from the role and the board of directors.
“I want to thank Michael and the PPG board of directors for their trust and confidence as we continue to drive PPG forward,” said Knavish. “Our global business portfolio remains well positioned for future growth and to successfully navigate through the current global economic challenges. I look forward to continuing to work with the more than 50,000 PPG people across the world to support our customers, deliver excellent business performance, and create additional shareholder value.”
McGarry described Knavish as a highly respected business leader who has played an instrumental role in PPG’s growth across the markets it serves. “His leadership has been invaluable as PPG has executed several important strategic actions, including PPG’s recent acquisitions and successful integrations of Tikkurila and Ennis-Flint, now PPG’s Traffic Solutions business,” said McGarry. “Tim’s proven ability to lead the implementation of our global business strategies, and his focus on continuously strengthening our operations and energising our diverse workforce, will be important in delivering on our growth strategy.”
Hugh Grant, PPG independent lead director, praised McGarry’s contribution to PPG. “On behalf of the PPG board of directors, we want to congratulate Tim and also recognise Michael’s outstanding leadership and strategic vision in guiding PPG through some of the most challenging periods in its nearly 140-year history,” he said. “Michael’s leadership in completing several of PPG’s largest acquisitions has made a significant impact on expanding the company’s portfolio and reach in key growth markets. We thank him for his many contributions and look forward to benefiting from his continued leadership as Executive Chairman of PPG’s board of directors. As we look ahead, the board fully supports Tim and the entire PPG team as they work to achieve future growth and increased value for our shareholders.”
McGarry has served as Chairman and CEO of PPG since September 2015. During his more than 40 years with the company, he served in a variety of key business and functional leadership roles in the US, Europe, and Asia, and led several strategic actions that transformed PPG’s business portfolio.
Knavish joined PPG in 1987 at PPG’s global headquarters in Pittsburgh. He advanced through roles of increasing responsibility in several key businesses and functions, including serving as plant manager for the East Point, Georgia, architectural coatings manufacturing facility.
In 2005, Knavish moved to Australia as Managing Director Australia and New Zealand Coatings, and General Manager Automotive Refinish. In 2007, Knavish returned to the US where he assumed responsibility for Automotive Coatings Americas, and in early 2010, was named a vice president.
In 2012, he was appointed Global Vice President Protective and Marine Coatings. In 2016 he became Senior Vice President Automotive Coatings, and in 2017 was named Senior Vice President Industrial Coatings.
In addition to global leadership of PPG’s industrial coatings, packaging coatings, and coatings services businesses, Knavish was responsible for the global procurement function and for PPG’s Asia Pacific region. In January 2019, he was appointed Senior Vice President Architectural Coatings, and President PPG Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Before being named Chief Operating Officer in March this year, Knavish served as Executive Vice President beginning in October 2019, where he was responsible for PPG’s global architectural coatings businesses, global automotive refinish business, the Latin America region, and digital and information technology functions.
A native of Pittsburgh, Knavish earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.