Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. has announced that Steve Markevich, executive vice president, will be leaving the company after having successfully led the Global Transportation Coatings business since 2013 and overseen the Greater China region since 2016. Axalta is further announcing that Hadi Awada is joining the company as senior vice president, Global Transportation Coatings, effective Oct. 12, 2020. He will lead Axalta’s global light vehicle and commercial vehicle coatings businesses.
“I want to thank Steve for his many accomplishments at Axalta,” said Robert Bryant, CEO of Axalta. “Simply put, Axalta wouldn’t be where we are today without Steve’s immense contributions over the past seven years. Steve shaped our transportation business into the industry leader it is today. He and the team he built have accomplished major business wins, made immense strides in our China business and facilitated our entry into the automotive interior coatings space. Steve will remain on the Axalta team until Nov. 2 to ensure an effective transition.
“I am thrilled to welcome Hadi to Axalta and our leadership team. He will play a pivotal role as we look to continue to grow and strengthen Axalta’s Transportation Coatings businesses. He is commercially focused with an impressive track record of leading businesses as they evolve to deliver for their customers. Moreover, he is keenly focused on developing intimate customer relationships and is a passionate leader of people. I’m confident Hadi and our exceptional transportation coatings leadership team will further accelerate the growth of our global light vehicle and commercial vehicle businesses in both existing as well as underserved adjacencies within the transportation industry.”
Awada joins Axalta from Faurecia, a tier 1 automotive technology company, where he held roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he was president, Clean Mobility – North America and a member of Faurecia’s North American Board of Management. In that role, Awada ran a multibillion-dollar business and led efforts to develop and deploy new technologies to customers seeking sustainability and innovation. Previously, he worked in Germany, the U.K. and Asia in various business roles, including vice president of Faurecia’s emissions control technology business in China. After earning his B.A. from the University of Toledo, Awada began his career serving the Ford Motor Company.
“Axalta’s entrepreneurial ethos is what drew me to this role,” said Awada. “I look forward to helping Axalta identify new and emerging opportunities to develop products and services to meet the ever-evolving needs of our coatings customers.”
On his exit from the company, Markevich said, “From the carveout, through the IPO, to getting our business on the right track, I have had the honor of working with a remarkably dedicated, hardworking and committed group of professionals. I know the business is in great hands and on the right path, and I look forward to watching its continued success.”
