NewsMakers
appointments
Eric Thiele has been appointed treasurer and a company officer of PPG Industries. He had previously served as assistant treasurer and credit director. As of December 1, Thiele is based at PPG’s headquarters in Pittsburgh and reports to David B. Navikas, senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer.

Thiele’s job transfer is a result of the retirement of Aziz Giga’s, PPG vice president and treasurer in early March. Giga will support the company as corporate vice president during the transition of roles.

new hires
Lou Cerny, who attained national prominence as the project manager for two Chicago landmarks, Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”) and the retractable all-glass ledges (The Ledge) at Willis Tower, has now joined the team at Arlington Glass & Mirror. Cerny will serve in a senior management position and director of technical services for the Chicago- based firm.

Cerny previously was with K&K Ironworks in McCook, Ill., and prior to that spent many years at a large Chicago contract glazing firm where he served as vice president of engineering.

Cerny says he joined Arlington Glass for one simple reason: “the people.” “I look forward to growing the business,” adds Cerny.

Julie O. Smith joined Gardner Glass Products as the new director of customer service and inside sales.

Smith has a degree in business administration with a minor in economics from Lenoir Rhyne University. She previously worked at Lowe's Companies for 13 years, serving most recently as director of replenishment for the Mooresville, N.C.-based company.

promotions
Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. promoted Yoshiaki Tamura, current senior executive officer, to executive vice president. In addition, he will take on the role of representative director to assist the company’s CEO and will serve as general manager of the company’s technology division. He succeeds Katsuhisa Kato, who is leaving the company, effective March 2013.

Tamura joined Asahi in 1979 and has held a variety of positions during his more than 30 years with the company. He most recently served as senior executive officer and president of electronics.

Brad Plumb has been promoted as director of sales and business development for GlasWeld. Previously he was a project manager for the company.

Plumb studied civil engineering at California State University Long Beach. His previous experience includes work in architecture and commercial building, as well as serving as director of national contracts for a residential construction firm.

Sika Corp.'s Industry Business unit announced that Thomas LaBelle has assumed responsibility for the management of its Fenestration, Facades and Insulating Glass Market (FFI) segment. This is in addition to his existing responsibility as global key account manager for the transportation business unit.

LaBelle has more than 23 years of experience in the adhesives and sealants business, and began his career with Sika in January 2008, as global key account manager for transportation. He has a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence Technological University and a master’s degree from Michigan State University.

USG
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