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.
The Pittsburgh Paints Company (PPC) appointed Brian Carson as CEO. With more than 30 years of experience in the building products industry, Carson most recently served as president and CEO of AHF Products. Prior to that, he spent 12 years at Mohawk Industries, Inc., ultimately serving as president of Mohawk Flooring North America.
According to PPC, Carson will drive the company’s strategy as an independent company, focusing on enhancing innovation, strengthening customer relationships, and fostering long-term growth while renewing PPC’s legacy.
In addition, PPC recently appointed Joe Durham as CFO and Brian Padden as president, Retail.
Barentz announced the appointment of Esther Veninga as CFO and a member of the board, effective May 1, 2025. Veninga brings international experience in finance and strategy, having held senior leadership roles in major food retail businesses across Europe and the United States.
Previously, Veninga served as CFO of Albert Heijn; before that, she held key finance and business leadership positions at Delhaize Serbia, Stop & Shop, Ahold Delhaize, and Ahold Czech Republic.
Veninga holds a master’s degree in Business and Managerial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and completed executive education in strategic financial analysis for business evaluation at Harvard Business School.
Christian Battenberg has joined the Bodo Möller Chemie Group as executive assistant and global vice president of Plastics.
According to the company, he will lead strategic development and further strengthen Bodo Möller Chemie’s market position in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers), plastics, textiles, and additive lubricants.
Battenberg brings expertise in polymer chemistry and international experience to the role, having served as global market segment manager for thermosets and global business development manager for polymer solutions at Clariant.
He studied chemistry with a focus on polymer chemistry at the University of Darmstadt, where he earned his doctorate in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF and Airbus.
Sheboygan Paint Company announced that Leon Hosier has joined the company as a technical service representative. In this role, he will collaborate with the sales team to provide technical support to existing and prospective customers, troubleshoot and resolve issues, and ensure customer needs and expectations are met.
Hosier has experience in industrial coatings, having previously worked for PPG Industrial Coatings and other industry leaders. He holds NACE CIP, SSPC, and OSHA certifications. He is a graduate of Williamson College of the Trades in Media, Pa.
3M has announced changes to its Board of Directors and Board leadership structure.
William M. “Bill” Brown, 3M’s CEO and director, has been appointed chairman of the board in addition to his current responsibilities. This follows the announcement that Michael F. Roman stepping down as executive chairman of the board of directors. Roman has agreed to continue serving as executive advisor to the board until his retirement from 3M on May 1, 2025.
David P. Bozeman, president and CEO of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., has been elected to 3M’s Board of Directors. He has also been appointed to the Board’s Science, Technology, and Sustainability Committee. Bozeman has served as president, CEO, and a director of C.H. Robinson since 2023.
3M also announced that Amy E. Hood, a director since 2017, does not intend to stand for re-election as a director at 3M’s 2025 annual shareholder meeting.