James V.

Piraino
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Cell: (717)-880-8469

jvpiraino123@gmail.com

COO/ VP Sales and Marketing

Industrial Products, Chemicals, Materials, Wholesale Distribution
Results-oriented, global leader with proven executive leadership experience within global industrial manufacturing and
wholesale distribution. Demonstrated achievements in strategic marketing, global sales growth and operations including
full P&L responsibility for a $330 million materials business. Demonstrated leadership in developing and growing
business profitability in a US and international markets.
CORE COMPETENCIES: Executive Leadership, Global Market Growth, Strategic Marketing, Global Sales
Leadership, P&L, Private Equity, IPOs, e-Commerce, Discrete and Continuous Manufacturing, Engineered Materials,
Mining, Chemicals, OEMs, Wholesale Distribution
KEY ACCOUNTS: Nucor, ArcelorMittal, Lafarge Holcim, GE, GM, Ford, ExxonMobil, Vale, Alcoa, Weyerhaeuser,
Emerson, Carmeuse, CEMEX, ATI, Lhoist, RHI, Vesuvius, Honeywell, IBM, WW Grainger, WESCO, Eaton
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Magnesita, Sao Paulo Brazil

2006-2015

Magnesita is a $1.0B leading global refractory and mineral business producing a broad range of products from high technology
ceramic shapes to conventional firebricks and monolithics for use in high temperature industrial linings for steel, cement, foundry
and non- ferrous metals production. Magnesita, headquartered in Brazil, has manufacturing operations in South America, US,
Germany, France and China and sells in 100 countries.

Global Vice President

2014-2015
Drove record profits while managing Magnesitas Global Industrial and Minerals $220 million business and serving on
the companys Executive Committee in Sao Paulo. Delivered $30 million gross margin improvement in 2015.
Developed $20 million of annual new business in Middle East, SE Asia, Russia and CIS markets while building
manufactures representative network in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Gained market share with Global Cement Customers- Lafarge, Holcim, Heidelberg and Buzzi.
Awarded $20 million new green-field project business with leading global OEMs: Hatch, FLSmidth and Sinoma.
Identified and developed new Chinese supply chain for MgO refractory brick and Al monolithics.
COO North America
2011-2013
Grew EBITDA from $35 to $56 million while managing full P&L for Magnesitas $330 million North America
business. Managed automated brick and monolithics plant and mining operation in York with a team of 500 people.
Implemented INDG Performance Management System resulting in operating expense reduction from 18% to 16%.
Reduced scrap and raw material loses by over $2 million annually using PDCA methodology.
Drove performance based contract implementation at six Gerdau steel mills resulting in profit improvement from
$3million loss in 2011 to $10 million profit in 2013.
Developed strategic plan and formed joint venture with Krosaki Japan for steel flow control equipment manufacturing.

James V. Piraino

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Magnesita
Vice President Sales and Marketing
2006-2010
Transformed sales and technical assistance organization into the refractory industrys leading commercial organization
serving North America steel and cement industries. Grew revenue from $185 million to $330 million in while
improving gross margins from 32% to 41%.
Launched performance based business model to the US steel industry and awarded $60 million of new business.
Upgraded sales and technical marketing organization with focus on value based selling.
Drove customer profitability improvement with implementation of four price increases over five years.
Increased customer satisfaction rating scores from 4.0 to 4.5 with 90% of customers extremely or very satisfied.
Jacob Holtz, Philadelphia, PA
2003-2006
President
Turned around struggling hardware manufacturer and importer for private equity investor group. Grew sales by 30% to
$15 million over three-year period.
Supplyforce, King of Prussia, PA
2002-2003
President & C.E.O.
Led the National Accounts Group for Affiliated Distributors, North Americas largest network of industrial, electrical
and PVF wholesalers. Grew sales by 35% over two-year period to $400 million generating $14 million in fees.
Transformed company to industry leading national accounts commodity contract management and e-commerce service
provider. Through top line growth and corporate restructuring eliminated $1.6 million monthly loss and sold the
company.
Buildpoint, Redwood City, CA
1999-2001
President & C.E.O
Led the start-up of a leading internet based e-commerce and software company for the commercial construction
industry. Raised $50 million in capital from top tier venture backed, SAP and McGraw Hill investors. Created
organizational structure and staffed all key functions in rapidly growing start-up. Established BuildPoint.com as the
construction industry standard for on-line bidding applications and acquired the industrys largest community of
contractors and suppliers of over 40,000 registered users through the deployment of a national sales organization.
WESCO Distribution, Pittsburgh, PA
1996-1999
Executive Officer and Vice President Marketing
Directed all New Business Operations, Corporate Marketing, National Accounts and e-commerce activities for this
Fortune 500 Company providing electrical products, industrial supplies and related services. During the three-year
period after the management and private equity sponsor buy out by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, the company grew by
over $1B to $3.6 B at an 18% CAGR. Grew National Accounts in each of three years to $570 million annually.
Restructured and expanded Major Projects Construction Group by $110 million turning a profit in its second year of
operation. As a member of the Executive Staff played a significant role in the sale of the company to The Cypress
Group and the NYSE Initial Public Offering one year later.

James V. Piraino

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Allied Signal Electronics Materials, LaCrosse, WI

1995-1996
Vice President Sales and Marketing.
Led Global Marketing and Sales Organization to increase account penetration at OEMs and fabricators for the leading
manufacturer of engineering materials to the electronics industry. Responsibilities included: Global Marketing and
Marketing Communications, Americas Sales, Technical and Customer Service and Technology Product Programs
Management for the $700 million Division. Grew sales in North America to $310 million representing a 23% increase
and margins by 40%.
W.W.Grainger, Chicago, IL
1989-1995
Director
Managed all sales, marketing and supplier development activity of the Bossert Specialty Industrial Supplies Division
with sixteen branches serving fourteen states with annual sales of $150 million. Developed and implemented new
market strategy resulting in the turn around of the division within twelve months from a $2.5 million loss to a $3.0
million profit.
Regional Manager
Managed the Grainger Division Northeast Region covering sixty-eight branches throughout twelve states and Eastern
Canada, lead a team of eleven district managers and two hundred and ninety salespeople, develop and implement
region market plan, manage all local supplier activity and promotional programs. Grew sales in each of four years
including two recession years from $320 million to $490 million while sales productivity rose by 75%.
GE Plastics, Pittsfield, MA
1981-1989
Regional Marketing Manager
Built the southwest regional field marketing organization serving industrial, consumer, electrical, electronic and
computer OEM markets. Responsibilities included: development and management of a commercial team responsible
for all end-users specification, development and industry market strategies, implementation of account plans,
introduction of new products and marketing programs direction of the sales force.
Product Manager
Revitalized $200 million NORYL thermoplastic resin product line through conception and implementation of product
repositioning strategy. Responsibilities included profit management, pricing, sales, marketing strategy, market
analysis, technology and manufacturing program direction and sales training program development.
Account Manager AutomotiveGMC Supply Divisions and Detroit area custom molders
Application Engineer- LEXAN business unit
Manufacturing Management Program- Corporate training program within Aerospace and Housewares businesses
Education
Tufts University, Medford, MA
BS Mechanical Engineering with Management Minor
GE Crotonville, Advanced Marketing Management
Executive Board Membership
World Refractory Association, Brussels, Belgium
TRI North American Refractory Association, Cleveland OH