PITTSBURG - PPG Industries recently announced a number of new executive assignments that became effective May 1, 2011.

Gary Danowski, Vice President, Flat Glass, has been named Vice President, Automotive Refinish, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), based at the Rolle, Switzerland, headquarters of PPG Europe.

Richard A. Beuke, Vice President, Silicas, has been named Vice President, Flat Glass, based at the Flat Glass Business and Discovery Center in Harmar, PA, and reporting to J. Rich Alexander, Executive Vice President, Performance Coatings and Glass.

Kevin D. Braun, General Manager, Architectural Coatings, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand), has been named General Manager, Silica Products, based at the Monroeville, PA, chemicals center and reporting to Richard C. Elias, Senior Vice President, Optical and Specialty Materials.