A constant source of positive energy for employees and customers, Pascal Tisseyre is the spark driving product innovation, digital technologies and sustainability in the EMEA South region as its vice president of Architectural Coatings (AC).
People Focus Adds up to Success
Throughout a good portion of his career, Pascal was first and foremost a numbers guy. His master’s degree in finance landed him finance and controllership roles of increasing responsibility at various companies.
Our acquisition of SigmaKalon in 2008 put him on the path to his current position, where he’s responsible for 2,200 employees at 200-plus company stores and nine plants. Countries under Pascal’s leadership are France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Suriname, and he also oversees AC business in French overseas territories.
“Interacting with our people is what I enjoy most about my job. We may be using different oars to propel this ship forward, but my goal is to make sure we’re all going in the same direction. It’s also important for me to give each person positive energy, trust and accountability to create engagement.”
Growth Strategy: Innovation, Digital Technology, Sustainability
Connecting with customers is another important – and enjoyable – facet of Pascal’s job. He feels a market leader must stay ahead of the competition by understanding what customers need to grow and then investing in innovations that provide it.
We know that the biggest cost for professional painters is time spent on the job, so we’ve developed products that increase jobsite effectiveness. For example, we have a fast-drying paint that allows the application of two coats instead of just one within a workday. One of our exterior paints can be applied in light rain, minimizing time lost due to weather.
Making it easy for customers to buy our paint through digitization is also a growth strategy for AC EMEA South. Through a simple-to-use app, professional painters can order products online for delivery to their jobsites or pickup at one of our stores. A second digital platform provides ordering and account management capabilities for the region’s independent dealers.
Beyond digital, Pascal and his team are connecting with customers on ways to increase their sustainability through product innovations that reduce environmental and other impacts.
“Sustainability has moved from ‘nice to have’ to imperative for our customers. As the market leader, we must help them understand how sustainability impacts their business and then work together to develop solutions.”
Recent innovations resulting from this collaboration include our External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS), which optimizes a building’s energy efficiency and reduces its greenhouse gas emissions. We also recently launched SEIGNEURIE™ EVOLUTEX™ and PANTEX™ low-carbon paints, both of which have a lower carbon footprint compared to prior formulations.
These and other products are helping Pascal’s team contribute to our 2030 environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, which include 50% of sales from sustainably advantaged products by 2030. The team is also focused internally, looking for ways to reduce operational impacts to help achieve the targets. In France, for example, the AC business is shifting from fossil fuels to hydrogen to power trucks that move products between plants and warehouses. The change will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 metric tons annually.
I’m
#PPGProud of how strong our team is when we decide to do something. Our bold ESG targets are not only critical to our growth strategy, but they’re also part of our long legacy and history of leadership.
Pascal also ensures his team addresses the social aspect of ESG. For example, we’re celebrating a 12-year partnership with Worldskills France to promote and develop vocational training, encourage the employment of young people and promote excellence in the painting and decorative trades. A six-year partnership with AFM-Telethon has seen 850 employees helping revitalize 21 hospitals and facilities.
Primer on Leadership
As one of our long-tenured leaders, Pascal has practical advice for others starting their careers. First and foremost, always understand the business. He starts each day reviewing economic data and news that impact our company and customers so he can make informed decisions. That leads to his second piece of advice, which is to never take too long to make those decisions. Hesitancy could hurt the business in both the short and long term.
“I’m also a strong believer in that if you fail, fail fast. If you think something isn’t a good idea, stop, move on to something else and don’t take the failure personally. Successful leaders always accept a certain level of risk. If your comfort level is high, that means you aren’t taking any risks.”
Rockin' the leadership scene - Pascal shows us that success and fun go hand in hand!