Conair Group names new leadership 

Jon Lashley, who has served as COO of Piovan Group North America since April 2025, will take full leadership responsibility for Conair, as the company’s new executive VP for the Piovan subsidiary. He will report to Marco Mammano, the managing director, of the company’s polymers business unit. 

John Erkert, who was named president of Conair Group in November, is leaving the auxiliary equipment maker. 

In his new role, Lashley will focus on driving operational performance and accelerating the adoption of advanced processing technologies across Conair’s product portfolio. 

“We are strengthening our operational foundation while advancing technologies that improve process efficiency, sustainability and overall system performance,” Lashley said. “By aligning more closely with the Piovan Group’s business unit structure, we are better positioned to bring innovation to market faster and deliver consistent, high-value solutions that help processors run smarter, more efficient operations.” 

The change comes as the Piovan moves from a regional organizational model to a business unit structure designed to enhance global alignment, speed to market and customer responsiveness. The polymers unit led by Mammano integrates commercial and operational activities across global market. Mammano reports to Piovan Group CEO Filippo Zuppichin. 

About Erkert, Lashley said, “We have a sincere appreciation for John and his leadership and contributions to Conair and the broader North American organization during his tenure.” 

PiovanGroup is the world’s biggest supplier of auxiliary equipment to the plastics industry. Besides Conair, its brands include UnaDyn, Doteco and Thermal Care. Conair's extensive lineup of over 450 products ranges from drying systems, blenders and temperature control units to solutions for extrusion and recycling. It is based in Cranberry Township, Pa.