SILLA GIUSTI
Solbiate Con Cagno
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven executive with 25+ years of experience leading multinational operations, driving market expansion, and delivering sustained revenue growth in the coatings industries. Proven expertise overseeing all aspects of operations including sales and marketing, business development, manufacturing, HR and team leadership, and strategic planning. Proven history of success generating revenue by building, training, and leading high-performance sales teams and coordinating product development based on market demand. Skilled change manager with demonstrated talent for safeguarding corporate revenue.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager of PPG Architectural Italy and Iberia
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
- SBU Leader of the both Italian and Iberia Architectural units, holding the responsibility for the 2 manufacturing sites, in Italy and Iberia, worth €100 million yearly turnover
- Coordinating 8 functional leaders driving an organisation of 300 employees: sales, marketing, customer service, technical, logistics & operations, captive shops with the support of shared corporate services: Finance & HR
- Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
General Manager of PPG Architectural Italy and Traffic Solution EMEA South
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2018 - 12.2023
- Company Overview: Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
- Leader of the both Italian Architectural and South EMEA Traffic Solution operations, holding full the responsibility for the 3 manufacturing sites, in Italy, worth €80 million yearly turnover
- Coordinating 10 functional leaders driving an organisation of 200 employees, including operations
- Profit growth - constant improvement, year on year, since taking the position in 2018
- Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
Market Director, PPG Automotive Refinish Italy & South Africa
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2010 - 12.2017
- Company Overview: Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
- Served as primary director of operations for both Italian and South African corporate divisions, local sales branches of Automotive Refinish Business Unit worth about €60 million in yearly turnover across network of 250 distributors
- Assured compliance with revenue growth targets; developed and implement business plans
- Oversaw 8-person management team and over 90 remote workers
- Market position - Secured leadership position by successfully launching two new brands
- Rebuilt management teams and stabilised income levels, improving productivity by 24%
- Overhead costs - decreased on sales by 3%, reducing headcount by 15%, keeping service
- Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
Country Manager, PPG Packaging Coatings, Italy, Greece & Egypt
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2004 - 12.2009
- Company Overview: Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
- Oversaw revenue growth and performance of the branch worth over €12 million in yearly revenue, as leader of 20-person team
- Coordinated local sales operations of packaging coating division
- Team leadership - rebuilt, mentored, and trained high-performance sales team
- Market growth - safeguarded consistently from 2004, bringing sales from 8€ to 12€ million
- Profit growth - reached more than 10% return on sales, starting from break-even level
- Coating and specialty product manufacturer with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $18 billion in annual turnover
Export Manager, Polymers & Plastic Granules Division
LA-ES S.P.A.
01.2003 - 12.2004
- Company Overview: Italian and Swiss raw material and sheet metal manufacturer with approximately 800 employees
- Oversaw export sales throughout Europe and Far East
- Coordinated remote teams of polymer sales representatives throughout UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and China, as well as marketing and customer service teams
- Develop yearly business plans based on market assessments
- Liaised with laboratory engineers and production staff to determine technical specifications of new products
- Revenue growth - Fuelled sales growth in polycarbonate and acetate granule markets, achieving double-digit growth within 12 months
- Italian and Swiss raw material and sheet metal manufacturer with approximately 800 employees
Sales & Marketing Manager, Plastic Coatings
AKZO NOBEL
01.2002 - 12.2003
- Company Overview: Global coatings manufacturer and leading producer of specialty chemicals, with approximately €15 million in yearly turnover
- Oversaw sales throughout Italy and European markets worth approximately €5 million in turnover; managed remote branches and assured compliance with corporate goals as leader of 3-person team
- Produced market research and cost / benefit analysis to guide product development
- Generated sales throughout Germany, Turkey, and Italy by approximately 10% within 2 years
- Global coatings manufacturer and leading producer of specialty chemicals, with approximately €15 million in yearly turnover
Business Development Manager
AKZO NOBEL
01.2001 - 12.2002
- Company Overview: Global coatings manufacturer and leading producer of specialty chemicals, with approximately €15 million in yearly turnover
- Served as operations manager for German, Eastern European, and Turkish branches
- Conducted in-depth market and cost / benefit analysis
- Oversaw all aspects of e-business; developed and maintained ecommerce site
- Global coatings manufacturer and leading producer of specialty chemicals, with approximately €15 million in yearly turnover
Product Manager, Non-Stick Coatings Sub-Business Unit
AKZO NOBEL
01.1998 - 12.2000
- Company Overview: Global coatings manufacturer and leading producer of specialty chemicals, with approximately €15 million in yearly turnover
- Oversaw all sales throughout Italy, Europe, and Far East; drove product development, pricing strategy, and market surveys
- Established and monitored new trade channels; coordinated evaluation of new patents of exclusive technology in international markets
- Ensured compliance of overseas branches with corporate strategy
- Global coatings manufacturer and leading producer of specialty chemicals, with approximately €15 million in yearly turnover
Junior Sales Manager
ACP INTERNATIONAL
01.1995 - 12.1998
- Company Overview: Trading and consulting firm specialising in food industry commodities, with yearly turnover of approximately €50 million
- Led sales initiatives throughout German-speaking companies and Far East
- Oversaw international contracting, contract negotiations, and management of foreign sales
- Oversaw IT development
- Built portfolio of business from 0 contacts, assuring double-digit growth within 24 months
- Trading and consulting firm specialising in food industry commodities, with yearly turnover of approximately €50 million
Education
Master of Science - Economics
Università Commerciale L. Bocconi
Skills
- Microsoft Office: Word
- Microsoft Office: Excel
- Microsoft Office: Access
- Microsoft Office: PowerPoint
- SAP R3
- Oracle ERP
Languages
Italian
English
German
Spanish
Military Service
Italian Airborne Brigade, Lieutenant
Professional Development
- Commercial Contracts in International Law, Sole 24 Business School
- Basic Internet Marketing, SDA Bocconi School of Management
- Effective Presentation Skills, Management Centre Europe
- General Management and Business success, SDA Bocconi School of Management
Personal Information
- Number of Children: 2
- Date of Birth: 06/01/68
- Nationality: Italian British
- Marital Status: married
Timeline
General Manager of PPG Architectural Italy and Iberia
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2024 - Current
General Manager of PPG Architectural Italy and Traffic Solution EMEA South
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2018 - 12.2023
Market Director, PPG Automotive Refinish Italy & South Africa
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2010 - 12.2017
Country Manager, PPG Packaging Coatings, Italy, Greece & Egypt
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
01.2004 - 12.2009
Export Manager, Polymers & Plastic Granules Division
LA-ES S.P.A.
01.2003 - 12.2004
Sales & Marketing Manager, Plastic Coatings
AKZO NOBEL
01.2002 - 12.2003
Business Development Manager
AKZO NOBEL
01.2001 - 12.2002
Product Manager, Non-Stick Coatings Sub-Business Unit
AKZO NOBEL
01.1998 - 12.2000
Junior Sales Manager
ACP INTERNATIONAL
01.1995 - 12.1998
Master of Science - Economics
Università Commerciale L. Bocconi
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