Stem in the Spotlight: Amy Mercante, General Manager of Specialty Products, PPG

I joined PPG, a global coatings company, as a research chemist more than 30 years ago, and my first role in packaging, was as the global business director of TESLIN® substrate products within PPG’s Specialty Coatings and Materials (SCM) in 2019. Teslin is an extremely durable and highly versatile synthetic used in product labels, packaging, ID cards, restaurant menus, and e-passports. Within this role I led the strategic direction of the Teslin substrate products business, spearheading the product manufacturing of the substrate. Subsequently, I took on a corporate special assignment, and have since returned to SCM as the general manager of specialty products, which again includes Teslin.

I feel fortunate to have held several roles across several of PPG’s different business units, which has taught me the value of gaining and implementing perspective. Through my work with the Teslin business, I enjoyed the opportunity to expand my perspectives outside the coatings industry and gain deeper insights into packaging. As I step into my new role as general manager of specialty products, I am excited to return to SCM to leverage the similarities and differences I’ve observed to lead this unique set of products and technologies.