The ChemQuest Group (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA), a global business strategy and external specialty chemicals technology development firm, has hired Ezio Braggio as the newest vice president for ChemQuest Europe. Braggio recently retired from coatings manufacturer Sherwin-Williams, where he was regional president of the Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India (EMEAI) region.
A multilingual strategist, Braggio worked for over 35 years to cultivate a strong culture as a regional C-Suite executive of three Fortune 500 corporations: Sherwin-Williams, the former Valspar Corp., and PPG Industries.
“Working with the ChemQuest team, our clients in specialty chemicals can increase [earnings] aided by Ezio Braggio’s proven chemical business know-how in strategic and tactical planning to ensure their superior competitive position moving forward,” says Dan Murad, CEO of ChemQuest. “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.”
From 2011 to 2017, as president of EMEAI (and corporate vice president) of then-Valspar, Braggio identified and executed strategic acquisitions and profitable joint ventures for 10 business units in the region. He also helped to develop long-term contract terms with Crown Packaging Corp., Ball Corp., Massilly, Mivisa Envases, Ardagh Group, and Litalsa. Braggio’s leadership of Valspar EMEAI culminated in a newly restructured European leadership team to include new executive recruits, which contributed to significant growth in its packaging portfolio.
Following Sherwin-Williams’ acquisition of Valspar, Braggio coordinated the EMEAI business with more than 4,000 employees and more than 20 manufacturing plants. By 2018, he contributed significantly to the integration of the EMEAI business and exceeded all synergy goals, according to the company.
Braggio holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy (1982), as well as a master’s degree in business-to-business marketing from Bocconi University (Milan) (1991–1992).
“I have long admired ChemQuest’s strategic expertise in chemical business’ organic and inorganic growth,” Braggio says. “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.”
Source: ChemQuest, www.chemquest.com.