“Live Urgently, Be Different, and Have Fun.”
Brad Budde is an accomplished leader in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in global industrial markets. He has a track record of using technology to deliver growth programs, operational efficiency, and new business models that impact the P&L. His expertise spans commercial models, operations, and change management. Brad stays on the leading edge of technology to manage the risk of disruption and use it as a pivot point to transform strategic priorities, customer engagement, and investments.
As Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at PPG (NYSE: PPG), a $15.8 billion revenue chemical manufacturer, Brad spearheads the digital and AI strategy. Under his leadership, the Artificial Intelligence program has built differentiated capabilities that resulted in product cost savings, faster R&D cycles, improved customer interactions, and inventory management. His team delivers custom AI capabilities for the company’s key market differentiators in chemical and color formulation, while deploying software platforms that leverage best-in-class AI vendors. Brad has forged key partnerships between PPG and customers by collaborating with Nvidia, Autodesk, Salesforce.com, and smaller, emerging players. He has delivered roadmaps for long-term growth to the CEO and presented AI deep dives to the PPG Board of Directors.
He leads the eCommerce and customer digital experience program, which has over $1.4B of annual digital sales through ecommerce channels and is growing at double-digit rates. Brad engages PPG business leaders to modernize go-to-market channels and channel structures that fit customer expectations. His teams are delivering a modernized customer engagement, which is also expanding at double-digit rates through techniques including AI chat agents and digital product catalogs. He is implementing a modern CRM technology across the enterprise with a step-change expectation for sales pipeline expansion and organic growth.
Previously, Brad spent 17 years at Emerson (NYSE: EMR), where he led strategic digital initiatives, managed technical products, and optimized Lean manufacturing operations. Early in his career, he held product manager and manufacturing engineer roles in the plastics industry.
International exposure has also been a significant part of Brad’s journey. He has worked with numerous multinational organizations and traveled extensively, gaining a global perspective that informs his strategic decisions. This cross-cultural insight allows him to lead diverse teams with empathy, deploy technology that is regionally aligned, and drive international collaboration that resonates across borders. While English is his primary language, his ability to understand diverse markets and user behaviors equips him with a competitive advantage in global digital strategy.
Brad’s professional credibility is reinforced by his contributions as a speaker and thought leader. He has been invited to speak at internal and external engagements, where he discusses themes such as digital transformation, AI deployment in B2B settings, and the future of customer experience. These engagements underscore not just his subject-matter expertise but his natural communication skills and willingness to share knowledge openly.
As an active community and civic leader, Brad has served in governance roles on nonprofit and advisory boards. He is passionate about change management and psychology in organizational transformation, as demonstrated by the eCommerce market and sales channel penetration progress at PPG. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University.
Brad is currently exploring opportunities to serve on corporate and advisory boards, particularly with medium-sized industrial companies or software companies. His motivation stems from a desire to guide these organizations through external technology shifts and toward strategic success by leveraging his experience in digital innovation, cross-functional leadership, and operational scaling. He understands the challenges mid-sized firms face and brings a uniquely holistic view—combining technology fluency with business acumen and human-centered leadership.
With a personal motto of “be different and have fun,” Brad brings an authentic, energizing presence to every room he walks into. He believes that culture and innovation are inseparable and that meaningful progress happens when teams are both challenged and supported. Whether mentoring talent, guiding boardroom conversations, or leading a transformation initiative, he operates with integrity, creativity, and an unwavering sense of purpose.
As he continues to build his network and pursue new leadership opportunities, Bradley is looking for missions that match his energy—organizations that aren’t afraid to think differently, innovate boldly, and create value for both people and profit. His ideal role is one where he can drive strategy, influence culture, and leave a lasting legacy.
Character:
Bradley exemplifies authenticity, integrity, and curiosity. His belief in doing good work with good people has made him a trusted leader and valued colleague in every environment he joins.
Knowledge:
With deep expertise in AI, Digital technology, CRM, product management, and manufacturing, Brad brings a robust and evolving skill set. His two patents and international experience are proof of his continuous pursuit of excellence and relevance.
Strategic:
He excels at connecting long-term vision with actionable execution, often spearheading initiatives that transform customer engagement and operational efficiency. Bradley’s ability to see both the forest and the trees enables him to unlock value in complex industrial B2B ecosystems.
Communication:
A natural storyteller and speaker, Bradley connects with audiences ranging from engineers to executives. He inspires alignment through clarity, empathy, and a shared sense of purpose.
