PPG announced Claudia Knotts as the technical director of its Americas, Packaging Coatings business, effective August 1, 2023, and Elzen Kurpejovic as the technical director of its EMEA Packaging Coatings business, effective August 14, 2023. According to the announcement, the two will work in tandem to drive their individual regions’ and PPG’s overall technical strategy for packaging coatings to ensure regulatory compliance, and continued research and advancement.

“We are thrilled to welcome Caudia and Elzen to the Packaging Coatings Global Technical Leadership team,” said Polina Ware, PPG global technical director. “Both Claudia and Elzen have successful records leading teams and developing innovative, advanced solutions. With these appointments, we continue establishing PPG as a technical leader in the Packaging Coatings world, particularly when it comes to sustainability.”

Knotts has worked at PPG for more than twenty years, starting as a polymer chemist in 2002. The company says she brings extensive packaging resin and formulation experience to her new role. Prior to her current position, Knotts was new product development manager for the USCA region, where she spearheaded developing sustainable products for food and beverage.

Kurpejovic has worked at PPG for more than nine years in various roles in OV, Easy Open End and Food and Caps & Closures divisions in Europe. With more than 10 years of project management experience, the company says he has demonstrated leadership and knowledge across multiple product lines and in multiple roles.

Knotts holds a master's degree in Chemistry/Polymer Science from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kurpejovic earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Stuttgart University in Stuttgart, Germany.

For more information, visit: ppg.com.