CLEVELAND — ICI announced the appointment of Ian McMahon as chief executive, North America, of ICI Paints. McMahon, currently chief executive of ICI Paints in Europe, became chief executive, North America-designate on Sept. 1, and will assume full responsibilities of the position on Jan. 1, 2001, the company said. McMahon will oversee all operations of ICI Paints’ decorative coatings business in North America.

Kitty Hulme, currently executive vice president for Dealer and International in North America, will become the new chief executive, Europe, for ICI Paints.

McMahon succeeds Denis Wright, executive chairman of Decorative Paints, Americas, since 1998. Wright will retain responsibility through December 2000, and move to special-assignment responsibilities in the United Kingdom before retiring in mid-2001, the company said.

Before joining ICI Paints in Europe in 1996, McMahon spent seven years at Grand Metropolitan plc, where he held the positions of managing director of Grand Met Foods UK; senior vice president of International Operations, Pearl Inc.; vice president, Asia, Pearl Inc.; and international director, William Hill Ltd.

In other appointments, ICI Paints North America announced the promotion of Kenneth S. Sekley to executive vice president of the Consumer and Independent Dealer Division, effective January 2001, and said Daniel J. Bonini has joined the company as senior vice president of Marketing for the Consumer and Independent Dealer Division. Sekley, who succeeds Hulme, will direct the company’s Glidden paint business at home centers, including The Home Depot, and other brands at independent paint dealers. He also will head ICI Paints’ Specialty Brands business, including Liquid Nails adhesives and caulks, and Zynolyte spray paints. Bonini will oversee marketing and brand communications for the Consumer and Independent Dealer segments of ICI Paints in North America.

Sekley joined ICI Paints in 1999 as vice president and general manager, Consumer Division/The Home Depot. He was formerly vice president of Marketing for Lesco Inc., and previously held positions with American Cyanamid and Exxon Corp. Bonini formerly held executive positions in marketing with F. Schumacher & Co. and Leviton Manufacturing Co.

ICI said its North American Paints business during the past year strengthened its role as a major paint supplier to The Home Depot, and recently won a contract to manufacture and distribute Ralph Lauren Paint, beginning in 2001. Other initiatives include e-commerce ventures and continued operational improvements, the company said.

Worldwide, ICI Paints operates 60 manufacturing sites in 25 countries, with more than 16,000 employees. The business reported worldwide sales of approximately $3.5 billion in 1999. ICI Paints North America’s labels include Glidden, ICI Dulux, Devoe, Fuller-O’Brien, Sinclair, C-I-L, and Liquid Nails caulks and adhesives. The business operates more than 700 company stores, and also distributes products through national retail outlets and independent dealers in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.