PPG Announces Leadership Change
Posted on Friday, October 30, 2026
PPG Announces Leadership Change
Justin Epler has been appointed vice president, Industrial Coatings (IC) Americas, at PPG (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), effective Aug. 1, 2026. He reports directly to Juliane Hefel, senior vice president, industrial coatings and specialty products. Epler succeeds Hendekea Azene, who has decided to leave PPG for an outside opportunity.
Epler brings deep knowledge of the region and IC business over 15 years, most recently serving as general manager of the IC EMEA region. While in this role, he delivered measurable performance improvements across the region over a three-year tenure, including a stronger focus on commercial excellence and disciplined planning. Prior to leading the IC EMEA region, Justin served as director of coil and building products in IC Americas for almost five years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and international business management from Saint Vincent College.
“Throughout his career, Justin has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to customers and a deep understanding of their needs,” Hefel said. “His ability to listen, connect and deliver has been a hallmark of everything he does. In this role, Justin will focus on deepening customer partnerships, driving continued growth across the region, and ensuring that our high level of service and technical expertise remains at the forefront of everything we do.”