PCIAW Welcomes John Murphy to its Board of Directors, Representing Hohenstein
The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide strengthens its board with the appointment of one of the most experienced senior leaders in the chemical and textile sector.
The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) is pleased to announce the appointment of John Murphy, MBA, CCol FSDC, to its Board of Directors, representing Hohenstein, one of the world’s leading textile testing, certification, and research institutions.
Four Decades of Global Industry Leadership
John brings to the PCIAW board more than four decades of senior leadership experience spanning the chemical, textile, and coatings sectors, with a career defined by large-scale commercial transformation, sustainability leadership, and deep technical authority across global markets.
Currently serving as Technical Director Europe at Hohenstein, John has been instrumental in developing the organisation’s commercial relationships with global chemical companies, brands and retailers, with a particular focus on driving international growth for Hohenstein’s Eco Passport certification programme. His work at Hohenstein sits at the intersection of sustainability compliance and commercial strategy, making his appointment to the PCIAW Board especially timely as the industry navigates the demands of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the broader shift toward responsible procurement.
Executive Experience Across Global Organisations
Prior to Hohenstein, John held a series of high-profile executive roles across some of the most significant organisations in the sector. As Technical Director at Crown Paints, he led a team of 70 professionals across R&D, quality, health and safety, and sustainability, delivering innovations linked to air pollution reduction and new polymer development, while representing the company at board level within the British Coatings Federation and the European CEPE Decorative Sector Group. Before that, John spent a distinguished tenure at Huntsman Textile Effects part of Huntsman PLC, a global organisation with a turnover of $9 billion where he rose to lead a business-critical $125 million global restructuring programme, delivering $84 million in savings ahead of schedule, and subsequently served as Operational Marketing Director for the EAME region, generating €24 million in new sales growth.
Foundations in Textile Chemistry
His career began at Ciba Geigy, where he progressed through seven promotions across technical and commercial roles over more than two decades, a foundation that gave him an exceptional command of both the science and the commercial realities of the textile chemical supply chain.
John holds an Executive MBA and is a Fellow and Silver Medallist of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, reflecting both his academic rigour and his standing within the professional textile community.
Industry Response to the Appointment
Commenting on his appointment, PCIAW Founder & CEO Yvette Ashby said: “John’s appointment to the PCIAW board is a significant moment for the association. He brings a combination of deep technical knowledge and proven commercial leadership that spans decades and continents. As our industry faces one of its most demanding regulatory transitions, having someone of John’s calibre and with Hohenstein’s expertise behind him will be invaluable in helping PCIAW members navigate what lies ahead. We are delighted to welcome him.”
John Murphy added: “I am delighted to join the PCIAW Board and look forward to working with the Yvette and furthermore the team, together with the current directors utilising my experience , knowledge and time with Hohenstein to contribute to the future success of the PCIAW ensuring that it grows and thrives in an ever changing environment meeting the sustainability and commercial challenges of the future“
John’s appointment reinforces the PCIAW’s commitment to bringing genuine industry expertise to its governance, ensuring the association remains at the forefront of the regulatory, technical, and commercial challenges facing the professional clothing sector.
