Leadership Team

Aaron Erter was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) in September 2022.

A highly experienced executive, Mr. Erter possesses deep expertise in global, multi-billion dollar organizations in the consumer and industrial sectors. Specifically, he has built and managed high-performing teams, is proficient in P&L management, strategy development, product development, marketing, sales leadership and M&A.

Before coming to James Hardie, Mr. Erter served as CEO of PLZ Corp, a leader of specialty liquid and aerosol manufacturing. 

Mr. Erter’s other career experiences include Sherwin-Williams, where he served as global president for Sherwin’s Consumer and Industrial businesses, Valspar, where he was senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Consumer business and 15 years at Stanley Black & Decker, where he held numerous leadership roles in sales and marketing for both the Black & Decker and DEWALT Brands. 

Mr. Erter serves on the Board of Directors for Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity.

Mr. Erter holds a Bachelor of Economics from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from The University of Notre Dame – Mendoza College of Business.

Rachel Wilson was appointed Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of James Hardie in August 2023.

Ms. Wilson has a 30-year track record of driving stakeholder value for global technology, business services and consumer companies. Ms. Wilson has executed dozens of multi-billion transactions as an agent or principal and managed highly impactful finance functions including FP&A, investor relations and treasury.

Prior to James Hardie, Ms. Wilson served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of R1 RCM, a healthcare IT company that services hospitals and health systems across the United States. Ms. Wilson also previously served as the SVP Finance and Treasurer for Iron Mountain, a global enterprise information management company, and later, as its Chief Financial Officer, Data Centers.

Ms. Wilson was appointed to the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) inaugural Fixed Income Market Structure Advisory Committee in 2017, and was named “Best Investor Relations Professional, Sell Side,” by Institutional Investor in 2016.

Farhaj Majeed joined James Hardie as Chief Human Resources Officer (“CHRO”) in February 2023.

Mr. Majeed is an accomplished human relations professional with over 20 years of experience. Prior to James Hardie, Mr. Majeed held a variety of global and regional HR roles with top-tier companies such as Kraft Foods, Mondelez International, Abbott Laboratories and most recently, Whirlpool Corporation, where he led the Europe and MEA region as VP & CHRO, EMEA.

Mr. Majeed holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Management with an emphasis on Human Resources and Marketing.

Tim Beastrom joined James Hardie in January 2023 as Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

Mr. Beastrom’s resume includes 25 years of in-house legal counsel focusing on corporate governance, securities law, environmental, social and governance risk oversight, mergers and acquisitions and commercial law. 

Before starting at James Hardie, Mr. Beastrom was Chief Securities Counsel and Associate General Counsel at Ecolab, Inc.

Mr. Beastrom received his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and management from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Sean Gadd serves as President of North America for James Hardie, a position he’s held since January 2022.

Mr. Gadd began his career at James Hardie in 2004 as a Regional Engineering Manager for the Asia Pacific business and progressed to Plant Manager for both the Carole Park and Rosehill facilities in Australia. Mr. Gadd then moved to the U.S. in 2006 to take on the role of Manufacturing Manager for various manufacturing facilities across the United States.

Since then, Mr. Gadd has had a variety of roles with increasing levels of responsibilities. In October 2015, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Markets and Segments, North America, with responsibility for strategic marketing and development. In December 2018, Mr. Gadd was appointed Executive Vice President, North America, Commercial, where his responsibilities included sales, product development and marketing prior to his current appointment as President, North America.

Mr. Gadd holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of New South Wales and an MBA from its business school, the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Joe Liu serves as James Hardie’s Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”), a role he’s held since January 2022.

In his role, Mr. Liu leads the firm’s global research and development and innovation efforts. Before taking over CTO duties, Mr. Liu was general manager for James Hardie’s Asia Pacific business.

Prior to James Hardie, Mr. Liu had an impressive 26 year career with 3M, where he held a variety of senior leadership roles in research and development, as well as commercial and international management.

Mr. Liu holds a Bachelor of Science and a Ph.D. in thermal energy and power engineering from Xi’an Jiao Tong University in China and an additional Ph.D. in mechanics from the University of Minnesota.

James Johnson II is James Hardie’s Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), a position he’s held since December 2021.

With a proven track record of developing effective, leading-edge technology solutions that create business value, he is responsible for all aspects of information technology and cyber security globally.

Mr. Johnson brings over 25 years of relevant and progressive IT experience, including 15 years as CIO for businesses in a variety of industries, including chemicals and metals companies. Most recently, Mr. Johnson held the role of CIO at Carpenter Technology and has also held IT roles with Honeywell International, Performance Fibers and Trinseo.

Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Ryan Kilcullen is Executive Vice President of James Hardie’s Global Operations, a position he’s held since January 2022.

Mr. Kilcullen joined the company in 2007 as a PcI/PdI Engineer. Since then, Mr. Kilcullen has worked for the company in various manufacturing and supply chain roles including Process Engineer, Production Manager and Supply Chain Engineer.

Mr. Kilcullen was appointed Executive Vice President – North America Operations in 2016, where he was responsible for the company's supply chain, manufacturing, engineering and environmental and health & safety operations.

Mr. Kilcullen holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Engineering in logistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

John Arneil is President of James Hardie’s Asia Pacific operations, a role he’s held since February 2023.

Since joining the company more than twenty years ago, Mr. Arneil has built an impressive career, having worked in James Hardie’s European, North American, and Asia Pacific businesses in a variety of commercial and operational roles.

Mr. Arneil has enjoyed exposure to multiple markets in different phases of business maturity and complexity enabling him to fully understand value creation from a consumer and customer perspective and how that translates end-to-end through innovation, manufacturing, commercialization and supply chain management. This, coupled with deep industry relationships has enabled Mr. Arneil to deliver record results for the Australian and New Zealand businesses year-over-year.

Mr. Arneil has a Bachelor of Business Management from The University of Queensland in Australia and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Leicester in the UK.

Christian Claus is the President of James Hardie’s Europe business, a position he’s held since January 2023.

Prior to James Hardie, Mr. Claus held multiple leadership positions at Tarkett, a leading sustainable flooring and sports surface firm based out of Paris. Mr. Claus also held senior leadership positions at Air Liquide, the world’s leading manufacturer of industrial gases, as well as various commercial and international management roles at 3M.

Mr. Claus holds both an undergraduate and MBA from Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany and has completed numerous executive education programs at Harvard Business School, London Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jill Kolling has served as Jame’s Hardie’s Chief Sustainability Officer (“CSO”) since March 2022.

Ms. Kolling is responsible for the development and execution of James Hardie’s global environment, social and governance strategy, ensuring integration with the company’s overall business goals. Prior to James Hardie, Ms. Kolling was the vice president for global sustainability at American conglomerate Cargill and built the first-ever global sustainability function for the corporation.

Ms. Kolling has a proven track record of applying strategic insights and systems thinking to optimize shareholder value, positive environmental outcome and social good.

Ms. Kolling holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Master of Science in computer science, both from the University of Minnesota.

Stephen Balsavich has served as Jame’s Hardie’s Global Head of Transformation since December 2021.

Mr. Balsavich is responsible for leading the coordination and execution of various strategic and change initiatives. Mr. Balsavich began his career at James Hardie in 2016 and has worked on both finance and IT teams. During James Hardie’s acquisition of Fermacell in Europe, Mr. Balsavich served as the PMO and IT lead, which included integration efforts post deal closing.

Prior to James Hardie, Mr. Balsavich spent most of his career in mergers and acquisitions for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Mr. Balsavich holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Dominican University.

Joel Wasserman joined James Hardie as VP of Corporate Communications and Global Brand Management in January 2023.

Mr. Wasserman is responsible for the company’s global marketing and communications initiatives.  He has more than 35 years of progressive communications and marketing experience that includes work at integrated marketing agencies and consumer products companies.

Prior to his role with James Hardie, Mr. Wasserman spent ten years with Sherwin-Williams and Valspar where he was responsible for strategic planning and brand management for all paint brands in the consumer brands group. During his career, Mr. Wasserman has supported marketing and communications efforts for dozens of global companies and brands including Citibank, Kellogg’s, Kraft Foods and Black & Decker.

Mr. Wasserman holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Northern Illinois University.