During the Chairman’s Dinner of the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) in Charlotte, NC, NPCA President Andy Doyle presented Charles E. Bunch, Chairman and CEO of PPG Industries and NPCA’s outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors, with the George Baugh Heckel Award.

WASHINGTON - During the Chairman’s Dinner of the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) in Charlotte, NC, NPCA President Andy Doyle presented Charles E. Bunch, Chairman and CEO of PPG Industries and NPCA’s outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors, with the George Baugh Heckel Award. This award is the association’s highest honor.  

Bunch took the helm as NPCA’s Chairman of the Board in October 2006. Under his leadership, NPCA engaged in a broad-reaching strategic planning review, out of which several high-profile association programs were conceived. These programs, which have provided new underpinnings for the association’s major activities, include the Communications Outreach, Science and Technology, Grassroots Issue Advocacy, and Legal Issues Tracking and Amicus Programs. During Bunch’s tenure, NPCA also partnered with Vincentz Network to devise the American Coatings Conference and Show.  

Additionally, Bunch’s chairmanship oversaw the beginnings of the NPCA merger with the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, as well as a more active dialogue and participation in the Paint Product Stewardship Institute effort, a major association focus for a nationally coordinated system for the management of leftover consumer paint.  

After joining PPG in 1979, Bunch held positions in finance and planning, marketing, and general management in the United States and Europe during his first 10 years with the company. He was named corporate director of purchasing and distribution in Pittsburgh in 1988. Bunch became General Manager of architectural coatings in 1992, Vice President of that unit in 1994, and Vice President of fiber glass in 1995. He was elected Senior Vice President of strategic planning and corporate services in 1997, and Executive Vice President of coatings, in early 2000. He was named President, Chief Operating Officer and board member in July 2002; Chief Executive Officer in March 2005; and to his current post as Chairman and CEO in July 2005.