RPM International Inc. announced that Michael J. Laroche, chief financial officer of its Specialty Products Group (SPG) operating segment, has been appointed vice president, controller and chief accounting officer for RPM, effective Nov. 1, 2021. He will succeed Keith Smiley, current RPM vice president of finance and controller, who previously announced he will retire from his role in October.

Laroche joined SPG in 2016 as controller and was promoted to vice president and controller before rising to the position of CFO. Before joining the company, he was a senior manager at PwC.

“Since joining the Specialty Products Group, Mike has exhibited strong leadership skills, sound judgement and an ability to see the bigger picture—all of which make him a natural fit for this role,” said Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and CEO. “I have been particularly impressed with the tremendous strides he made over the past few years in improving SPG’s reporting and analysis capabilities while also navigating the challenges of a remote work environment during the COVID pandemic.”

Smiley was elected vice president of finance and controller in April 2012, serving as the company’s principal accounting officer and managing its capital markets activities. He joined RPM as an internal auditor in 1992 and subsequently became corporate controller in 1993 and treasurer in 1997. Mr. Smiley was elected vice president – treasurer and assistant secretary in 1999. Prior to joining RPM, he was with Ciulla, Smith & Dale, LLP, an accounting firm.

“Keith has been a trusted member of the RPM family for nearly 30 years,” continued Sullivan. “During Keith’s time at RPM, revenues grew from $550 million to $6.1 billion. Keith has been an integral part of the team responsible for that success. On behalf of the entire RPM leadership team, I wish him all the best as he enters a well-earned retirement.”