PPG Industries has named a new senior vice president for global architectural coatings and announced three other changes in executive management, too.

Jean-Marie Greindl will take on the duties of senior vice president for global architectural coatings, and Ram Vadlamannati will assume responsibility as senior vice president of protective and marine coatings (PMC) and corporate development.

Tim Knavish will succeed Cindy Niekamp as senior vice president, automotive coatings, the company announced Monday (Jan. 25).

All position changes will be effective March 1.

Niekamp to Retire, Knavish Advances

Having served as an automotive coatings executive with PPG for the past seven years, Niekamp has announced her plans to retire from the company March 1.

Photos: PPG Industries

With the retirement of Cindy Niekamp (left), Tim Knavish (right) will take over her role as senior vice president, automotive coatings, effective March 1.

She joined PPG as vice president, automotive coatings in 2009; advanced to the senior vice president role and became a member of the PPG Operating Committee in 2010; and took on oversight responsibility for Latin America in 2012.

Niekamp led PPG’s automotive original equipment manufacturer coatings business in achieving strong revenue growth and profitability during a challenging time in the global automotive industry, the company said.

With her departure, Knavish will move into the senior vice president, automotive coatings role.

Knavish will continue to oversee PPG’s Latin America operations and its corporate environment, health and safety function.

He is currently PPG vice president, global PMC.

Griendl, Vadlamannati Move Up

Greindl has been appointed senior vice president, global architectural coatings and will continue his duties as president, PPG Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Jean-Marie Greindl (left) and Ram Vadlamannati (right) will take responsibility as senior vice president, global architectural coatings and senior vice president of protective and marine coatings, respectively.

He will hold responsibility for all architectural coatings activities in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, as well as the U.S. and Canada, and oversight of all PPG business in the EMEA region.

Greindl is currently vice president, automotive coatings, EMEA, and president, PPG EMEA.

As the current vice president, architectural coatings, EMEA, Vadlamannati has been promoted to senior vice president, PMC and corporate development.

He will continue to oversee the corporate information technology function for the company in addition to assuming oversight of PPG’s strategic planning and corporate development function.