Polycor Group Changes Top Management
QUÉBEC CITY – Polycor Group, the world’s largest natural-stone quarrier, will have new leadership as it heads into 2024.
Polycor announced Jan. 8 that Patrick Perus, longtime chief of the Quebec-based company, will be stepping down as CEO.
Brian McManus, a Polycor board member since 2022, will be the new CEO and executive chair, joined by Anthony Pagano as president.
Perus, 55, called his 20 years with the company “the most-remarkable adventure of my life.”
In a LinkedIn message, Perus noted that “there comes a time when one must turn the page and embark on the next chapter, and that moment has arrived for me.”
Perus became president of Polycor in 2003 as it acquired Georgia Marble Co. from French multinational mining company Imerys. He led the expansion of the Canadian company in acquiring a wealth of natural-stone properties, including Indiana Limestone Co., Rock of Ages, Swenson Granite and ROCAMAT.
“Together, we built the most incredible stone company in the world, placing natural stone at the forefront of the building industry,” he said. “We injected a new sense of ambition into the entire sector. When I assumed the role of CEO in 2012, POLYCOR’s revenue hovered around $30M USD. Today, we stand at close to $300M USD.”
Polycor currently operates more than 80 quarries and 24 manufacturing plants, with a workforce of approximately 1,500.
“I take pride in our collective achievements and am pleased to leave the company in excellent shape despite the challenges posed by the complex economic environment,” Perus added.
McManus comes to Polycor after serving as CEO of Uni-Select, a Boucherville, Québec-based distributor of automotive coatings and aftermarket parts in North America and the United Kingdom, since mid-2021.
He also was a partner at Cafa Financial Corp, a Montreal private-investment bank from 2020-2021, and previously spent more than 18 years as president and CEO of Stella-Jones Inc., a leadng North American producer of industrial pressure-treated wood products.
Pagano also comes to Polycor from Uni-Select, where he served as CFO. He also worked in the same position at Terrapure Environmental Ltd., a Mississauga, Ont.-based batteries and plastics recycler, and several senior positions at Restaurant Brands International, the Toronto parent company of franchises including Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Horton.
Perus says that, during his time at Polycor, he “developed a deep appreciation for natural stone, the dedicated individuals within the company, the industry itself, and the profound human values embodied by natural stone.
“Hailing from a blue-collar background in a family of miners in Northern France, my core values have always revolved around respect and admiration for those who contribute through hard work and teamwork. I am genuinely a better person because of the experiences shared with all of you.
“As I embark on the next 20 years, I do so as a better person, a proud American, a proud Quebecer, and with profound gratitude to all of you for the invaluable lessons and experiences you have brought into my life.”
