The ChemQuest Group, a global business strategy and external specialty chemicals technology development firm, has hired Mr. Ezio Braggio, Sherwin Williams’ recently retired Regional President of Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI), as ChemQuest Europe’s newest Vice President.
For over 35 years, multilingual strategist Ezio Braggio has cultivated a culture of excellence as a regional C-Suite executive of three Fortune 500 corporations: Sherwin-Williams (SHW), the former Valspar Corporation (VAL), and PPG Industries (PPG).
From 2011–2017, as President, EMEAI (and Corporate Vice President) of then-VAL, Mr. Braggio identified and executed strategic acquisitions and profitable joint ventures for ten business units (BU) in the region, including acquiring and integrating INVER and ISVA; and developing long-term contract terms with Crown Packaging Corporation, Ball Corporation, Massilly, Mivisa Envases , Ardagh Group, and Litalsa. Mr. Braggio’s leadership of Valspar EMEAI culminated in a well-run, newly restructured European Leadership Team to include new executive recruits that contributed to significant growth in its Packaging portfolio following non-BPA conversion; full integration of INVER in GI; significant new market share in the coil coatings market; and divestiture of Valspar’s non-core businesses (Graphic Arts and Laser Sintering Powder) for increased efficiency and reinvestment.
Following SHW’s acquisition of VAL (2017–2019), Mr. Braggio coordinated the EMEAI business with more than 4,000 employees and more than twenty manufacturing plants and by 2018 significantly contributed to integrate VAL EMEAI into SHW, thereby exceeding all synergy goals.
From 2005–2011, Mr. Braggio served as President and CEO of then-Sealy EMEA and SAPSA Latex (with Global responsibility for latex products development. Highlights of his 6-year tenure include overall improvements to customer relations; signing a new contract with IKEA for supply of latex cores at a global level; ultimately driving organic growth by 35% million in 3 years, with EBITDA from negative to 6% of sales.
Prior to 2005, Ezio Braggio served in various leadership roles over 21-years at PPG, including as General Manager, Refinish Paint and Accident Management EMEA, accelerating growth in new segments (Fleet and Light Industrial Coatings), increasing sales and profitability by 400%, thanks to the acquisitions of MaxMeyer and ICI Autocolor.
Mr. Braggio holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy (1982), and a master’s degree in B2B marketing from Bocconi University (Milan) (1991–1992).
“I have long admired ChemQuest’s strategic expertise in chemical business’ organic and inorganic growth,” Ezio Braggio notes, “combined with forward integration into materials science through the ChemQuest Technology Institute, this presents a unique partnership model for client success in geographic market expansion and increased global market share.”
ChemQuest CEO Dan Murad reflects, “Working with the ChemQuest team, our clients in specialty chemicals can increase EBITDA aided by Ezio Braggio’s proven chemical business know-how in strategic and tactical planning to ensure their superior competitive position moving forward. We are excited about the increased demand for our firm’s services that led to expanding ChemQuest Europe’s scope and breadth by recruiting Ezio Braggio, and adopting his Fortune 500 model to bolster our internal culture of excellence.” Contact ChemQuest at info@chemquest.com for details.