Jaime Irick is a seasoned executive and transformational leader known for his strategic vision and operational expertise across multiple industries. As the former CEO of Pittsburgh Paints Company, he orchestrated a $2 billion corporate carve-out from PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE: PPG), which culminated in a successful sale to private equity firm American Industrial Partners in December 2024. Under his leadership, the company—recognized as a market leader in paints, stains, caulks, sealants, and building products—continued to thrive, distributing its products through 750 company-owned stores and various national and independent retailers across the U.S. and Canada.
Jaime joined PPG in 2019 and held progressively senior roles, ultimately becoming Senior Vice President of Architectural Coatings (U.S. and Canada) and Global Traffic Solutions. Together, these divisions generated $3 billion in annual revenue and employed over 7,000 people. He also served as one of 15 senior executives on PPG’s Operating Committee.
Before his tenure at PPG, Jaime was President of Life Fitness, a $1 billion division of Brunswick Corporation and a global leader in fitness equipment, which was sold in 2019. Before that, he spent 13 years at General Electric, holding several senior leadership roles, including President and CEO of GE Lighting Solutions. As a GE Company Officer, he also founded and chaired the GE MC2STEM high school, the first high school in the nation located on a corporate campus.
Jaime currently serves on the board of directors of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW), a Fortune 300 industrial manufacturer with 2024 revenues of $15.9 billion. His civic engagement includes serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Systems Engineering, Jaime played Division I basketball and later served as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army. He rose to the rank of Captain and completed elite training programs as an Army Airborne Ranger. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2003, following a career that included serving as both staff and faculty at the United States Military Academy at West Point and deploying to the Middle East.
Jaime Irick’s leadership journey has been profiled in influential works, including "The Go Point" by Michael Useem, a Harvard Business School case study, and "True North" by Bill George. He and his wife are active philanthropists, supporting scholarships that expand educational access. They live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with their three children.
