PITTSBURGH - Watson Standard has appointed Henry K. Watson IV to the position of President, moving him from his previous position of Executive Vice President. Watson will have complete oversight and responsibility for Watson Standard and its operating companies, reporting directly to company Chairman H. Knox Watson III and the Board of Directors. 

Before joining Watson Standard, Watson worked in New York City for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Transaction Services, where he advised private equity and corporate clients on complex valuation and accounting issues associated with a variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, spin-offs, financial instruments, and derivatives.

Watson started his career at Watson Standard in 2008 as the Director of Finance and later assumed the role of VP of Corporate Development during which he led the company’s 2012 acquisition of Delta Coatings Corp., a Chicago-based industrial coatings company. As Executive Vice President, he has been responsible for all operational aspects of the business and has effectively transitioned the company into a platform for long-term, sustainable growth through acquisitions and organic growth initiatives. 

Jim Lore has been promoted to Vice Chairman and will remain the President of Watson Industries Inc., the holding company for various Watson entities, focusing his efforts on European expansion and corporate succession planning.

Founded in 1902, Watson Standard is a privately held specialty coatings, inks and adhesives company headquartered in Pittsburgh.