Dhawal Thakare

Dhawal Thakare, Ph.D., currently serves as the Global Strategic Market Manager for Automotive Adhesives and Sealants at PPG, where responsibilities include managing the global product portfolio and implementing strategies to enhance market share and profitability. Prior roles at PPG involved significant contributions to the optical coatings sector, including developing market strategies and advancing R&D in augmented and virtual reality applications. Education includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a notable focus on self-healing coatings funded by a $5M industry grant. Thakare's prior experiences also encompass internships at Fraunhofer IZFP and Hindustan Unilever Limited, emphasizing technical development and R&D strategies. Currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business, Thakare combines extensive technical expertise with business acumen.