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PPG Shuffles Leadership Positions

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

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PPG Industries has announced a variety of changes in its coatings and silica executive lineup. All were effective May 1.

In the changes:

• Flat glass (formerly, performance glazings) vice president Gary Danowski becomes vice president, automotive refinish for Europe, Middle East and Africa;

• Silicas vice president Richard A. Beuke becomes vice president of flat glass; and

• Kevin D. Braun, architectural coatings general manager for Australia and New Zealand, becomes general manager of silica products.

In addition, Johann (John) F. Kolling, director of U.S. taxes, has been named vice president of tax administration, based at PPG’s Pittsburgh global headquarters.

Gary Danowski

Danowski joined PPG in 1982 as a production engineer at the former Crestline, OH, automotive glass fabrication plant, which is now part of Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC (PGW). Over the years, he has held a variety of engineering and marketing leadership positions in PPG’s glass businesses in the United States and Europe.

Gary Danowski

In 2007, he was named director of global operations for aerospace. In 2009, he became vice president, performance glazings (now flat glass). Danowski has a mechanical engineering degree from Gannon University and an MBA from Ashland University.

In his new position, he is based at PPG Europe’s headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland, and reports to automotive refinish vice president John Outcalt.

Richard A. Beuke

Beuke joined PPG in 1976 as an industrial coatings sales representative based in Oak Creek, WI. During his career, he held positions as regional industrial coatings sales manager, marketing director, purchasing director and general manager of silica products before being named vice president of architectural coatings in 2000.

Richard A. Beuke

He was named vice president, growth initiatives, in 2006 and vice president, silicas, in 2009. A native of Indianapolis, Beuke holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and has studied executive management at the Columbia University Business School.

He is now based at the flat glass business and discovery center in Harmar, PA, and reports to Performance Coatings and Glass EVP J. Rich Alexander.

Kevin D. Braun

Braun joined PPG in 1991 as production engineer at the Delaware, OH, coatings manufacturing facility and joined the industrial coatings business in 1994. After a stint as marketing development manager in the fiber glass business, he returned to industrial coatings as market manager, consumer electronics, and then regional sales manager.

Kevin D. Braun

He joined the architectural coatings business as national sales manager for the Lowe’s account in 2003, then rose through several positions to become general manager, architectural coatings, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) in 2007.

Braun has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Capital University. He will be based at the Monroeville, PA, chemicals center and report to Optical and Specialty Materials senior VP Richard C. Elias.