Guardian Building Products Names Donald J. DeMarie Jr. as President/CEO and Member of the Board of Directors

Appointment comes following recent acquisition of Guardian Building Products by Pacific Avenue Capital Partners

GREER, S.C.--()--Guardian Building Products (GBP) today announced that Donald (“Donny”) J. DeMarie Jr. has been appointed President and CEO of GBP, as well as a member of the Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2018.

DeMarie’s appointment comes following the recent announcement that GBP has been acquired by Pacific Avenue Capital Partners, a Los Angeles area-based private investment firm.

“We are excited for a leader of Donny’s caliber to join the GBP team. Donny has CEO experience in a much larger organizational setting and has a proven track record of successful leadership in the building materials industry,” said Chris Sznewajs, Chairman of the Board of Guardian Building Products and Managing Partner & Founder of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. “We believe Donny’s collaborative approach, collective experience and desire to win make him an ideal fit for this role. Donny was involved in the original due diligence of the transaction, has been working with the team closely since closing, and is in a position to hit the ground running.”

“I am excited to join the team at Guardian Building Products. We will focus on our customers and suppliers while investing heavily in the business to support growth. We have a great team, and I am honored to carry on our long tradition of providing solutions to our customers,” said Donny DeMarie President/CEO of Guardian Building Products, Inc.

DeMarie’s previous work history includes 27 years with Masco Corporation. Masco’s brands include Delta Faucet, Hansgrohe, KraftMaid Cabinets, Hot Spring Spas, Behr Paint, and Milgard Windows. Masco is a Fortune 500 Company with more than $8 billion in revenue.

DeMarie began his career in 1985 as a Branch Manager for Gale Industries. He quickly rose through the ranks as a Regional Manager, Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Chief Operating Officer and was ultimately named President and CEO. In Corporate Development, DeMarie successfully completed and integrated more than 50 acquisitions in a span of three years, creating the largest insulation and specialties contractor in the United States.

Gale Industries later became Masco Contractor Services, and as President/CEO DeMarie grew revenue from $350 million to over $2 billion. Masco Contractor Services had over 300 branch locations, 8,000 vehicles and 16,000 employees. DeMarie was also Group President for Masco where he had operational responsibility for Masco Contractor Services, Service Partners and Arrow Fasteners.

Masco promoted DeMarie in 2007 to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Masco Corporation where he had global oversight for all operating companies until he left Masco in 2012.

After leaving Masco, DeMarie founded DeMarie Management Group, LLC in 2013 with a focus on strategic and operations consulting, and merger and acquisition advisory services for building products manufacturers, distributors and construction services contractors. DeMarie is also President of Homes by DHR of Oklahoma, LLC, a homebuilder in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and serves on the boards of directors of FiFoil Company, Visual Comfort Group, and Quality Aluminum Products.

About Pacific Avenue Capital Partners

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners, founded by Chris Sznewajs, is a Los Angeles-based private investment firm with deep expertise in operations and growth enhancement in the middle market. Pacific Avenue acquires controlling interests in businesses across multiple industries including industrials, building products, healthcare services and business services. Pacific Avenue, in conjunction with its operating executives, partners with exceptional management teams to assist businesses in unlocking value and reaching their full potential. Pacific Avenue’s portfolio has more than $750 million in combined revenue. For more information, please visit www.pacificavenuecapital.com.

About Guardian Building Products

Guardian Building Products (GBP) is one of the largest specialty building product distributors in North America providing roofing, insulation, gypsum and other building products to its customers. GBP, with 30 branch offices across the United States, delivers an array of innovative, market-focused products and services to more than 5,000 customers. For more information, please visit www.guardianbp.com.

Contacts

Guardian Building Products, Inc.
Russ Gallimore
russgallimore@guardianbp.com

Contacts

Guardian Building Products, Inc.
Russ Gallimore
russgallimore@guardianbp.com