James Hardie appoints Terex CFO Kong-Picarello as non-executive director

Jennifer Kong-Picarello will join the board of directors at James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) as an independent non-executive director, a move effective October 1, 2026. The appointment brings a serving public company chief financial officer with more than 25 years of leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial technology, and energy management sectors to the company, a provider of exterior home and outdoor living solutions.

Kong-Picarello currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Terex Corporation (NYSE: TEX), a global manufacturer of specialty vehicles and industrial equipment with an approximate revenue of $8bn. At Terex, her responsibilities span the company’s global financial operations, including treasury, mergers and acquisitions, enterprise risk, investor relations, and internal audit. Prior to joining Terex, she held the same executive position at Schneider Electric's Energy Management segment, which reported revenue of €27bn at the time. Her earlier career included various chief financial officer roles at Honeywell, where she managed the Intelligrated warehouse automation and material handling business and the Smart Meter Energy business. She also held finance and audit leadership roles at Tyco International before establishing her foundation in public accounting at Deloitte. Over her career, Kong-Picarello has built and led global finance organizations comprising up to 540 professionals across more than 25 countries.

Nigel Stein, Chair of James Hardie, commented on the appointment, noting that Kong-Picarello brings deep expertise in financial management, capital allocation, and M&A execution and integration. Stein added that her experience in using technology and digitalization to improve business performance will be beneficial as the company continues to execute its growth strategy and integrate its businesses. He described her as a valuable addition to the board and expressed anticipation for her contributions.

It is anticipated that Kong-Picarello will join the Audit Committee of the Board in November 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). James Hardie Industries plc is incorporated under the laws of Ireland and operates throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company's portfolio includes brands such as Hardie, TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, Versatex, fermacell, and StruXure.