Huron Capital Bolsters Valentus Specialty Chemicals Leadership Team
Huron Adds Specialty Coatings Industry Veteran Robert Taylor to the Huron Resource Group
DETROIT, March 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Huron Capital Partners LLC has added specialty coatings industry veteran Robert Taylor to the Huron Resource Group. Taylor will serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Valentus Specialty Chemicals, Inc., where he will advise Valentus's management team, including CEO Ray Chlodney and CFO John Ragazzini.
Taylor brings to Huron 42 years of experience in the specialty coatings industry, including 29 years with AkzoNobel NV in various research, commercial development, marketing and operations positions. In addition to leading several divisions of AkzoNobel NV, Bob has served as President & COO of Lilly Industries, Inc. and President & General Manager of The Sherwin Williams Company's Chemical Coatings Division.
"We are excited to augment a strong Valentus management team with a leader who has demonstrated success at several major specialty coatings businesses," said Mark Miller, a Vice President at Huron. "We believe Bob's expertise and connections within the industry will be instrumental in helping Valentus identify, partner with, and grow businesses with market-leading technologies." Mike Beauregard, a Senior Partner at Huron, added "The addition of Bob to the Valentus initiative signals Huron's commitment to continuing its history of partnering with specialty chemicals businesses through its ExecFactorSM buy-and-build investment model. We continue to surround Valentus with intellectual capital that we believe will help our specialty coatings partners thrive."
"I believe Bob will be an excellent addition not only to Valentus, but also to Huron," added Chlodney. "Having worked with Bob at Lilly, I expect his strategic insights, industry connections, and leadership capabilities will add value to the businesses we partner with. It's a pleasure to be reunited with Bob."
"I am thrilled to join the Huron Resource Group and be part of a firm with a long history of specialty coatings investments," said Taylor. "This is also an opportunity to work with seasoned operators in the specialty coatings industry in Ray and John. I look forward to contributing to the success of Valentus."
The Valentus initiative is targeting companies with the following characteristics:
- Product portfolio focused on innovative, environmentally-friendly, reactive coatings technologies with a variety of potential applications;
- Proven ability to meet customer needs with unique coatings solutions and exceptional customer service;
- Annual revenues of least $20 million; and
- Strong recurring revenue base with high customer retention.
About Huron Capital Partners LLC
Based in Detroit, Huron Capital is an operationally-focused private equity firm with a long history of growing lower middle-market companies through its customized ExecFactorSM buy-and-build investment model. Huron prefers complex situations where it can help companies reach their full potential by combining its operational approach, substantial capital base and transaction experience with proven operating executives. Founded in 1999, Huron has raised over $1.1 billion in capital through four committed private equity funds, invested in over 85 companies, and its portfolio companies have employed over 7,500 people throughout North America. The Huron ExecFactorSM buy-and-build investment model includes equity recapitalizations, family succession transactions, market-entry strategies, corporate carve-outs and management buyouts of companies having revenues up to $200 million. Huron's sector focus includes specialty manufacturing, business services, consumer goods & services, and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.huroncapital.com.
About Robert Taylor
Bob has had a distinguished career in the specialty chemicals industry, with over 40 years of leadership experience. Most recently, Bob was President & CEO of the Decorative Coatings division of Akzo Nobel NV. He was also President of Sherwin Williams' Chemical Coatings business and President & COO of Lilly Industries. Bob's career includes ten years of expatriate experience in Singapore, Shanghai and London, and he has a history of working to restructure and drive growth across multi-billion dollar global businesses. Bob currently serves on the Boards of MAG, Inc. and Frontier Worldwide Ltd., and he has also served on the Boards of Lilly Industries, Hooker Furniture Corporation, and FinishMaster.
About Ray Chlodney
Ray is a veteran executive who has spent over 30 years in the specialty chemical industry. He is the former President and COO of Spraylat Corp and has held executive roles at PPG Industries, Lilly Industries, Bayer Corp, and Benjamin Moore Paints. Ray's coatings experience includes working as a senior chemist and technical director, as well as director of strategic planning and business development. He has managed international expansion and acquisition integration, and established partnerships with research institutions to develop next generation coatings technologies.
SOURCE Huron Capital Partners LLC
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