PPG has appointed John Smith vice president, architectural coatings, EMEA, effective July 1, 2026. Smith will report to Henrik Bergström, senior vice president, global architectural coatings.

PPG

Smith succeeds Steve Pocock, who will retire effective June 30, 2026.

Smith most recently served as executive vice president and general manager at Signify, where he led the company’s global connected lighting business, with responsibility for strategy, innovation, marketing, sales and operations. He previously held senior leadership roles at Philips across global and regional consumer health, grooming and home care businesses.

Pocock joined Sigma Kalon in early 2000 before the company was acquired by PPG. He held several commercial leadership roles before being appointed general manager, architectural coatings, UK and Ireland, in 2010. He later served as general manager, architectural coatings, EMEA north and China, before being named vice president, architectural coatings in 2019. He moved into his most recent role leading the region’s architectural coatings commercial organization in 2024.

According to PPG, Smith brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience across consumer and B2B organizations.