Paint and coatings giant Sherwin-Williams Co. has named Chief Operating Officer John G. Morikis as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1. A nine-year veteran in that role, he will succeed Christopher M. Connor, who will become executive chairman. Morikis joined the Cleveland-based firm in 1984 as a management trainee. It reported $11 billion in 2014 revenue. In 2014, Sherwin-Williams made a bid to acquire Mexico-based Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., North America’s fourth-largest paint and coatings maker, for $2.34-billion, but antitrust issues blocked its completion and generated litigation between the firms. PPG Industries Inc. completed the purchase of Comex in November 2014. Sherwin-Williams was set to report its thirdquarter earnings on Oct. 29.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has elevated Christy A. Hall to be permanent secretary of the state’s Dept. of Transportation. Hall has served as acting secretary since July, when Janet Oakley resigned about one year after Haley appointed her. Oakley was director of government relations for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. No reason was given for Oakley’s resignation, but media reports in the state cited administrative challenges and clashes with lawmakers.

Hall had served as SCDOT deputy secretary for both engineering and for finance and procurement. She has overseen the state’s transportation repair following last month’s heavy flooding, which caused at least $1.5 billion in damage. South Carolina has the fourth-largest state-owned highway system in the U.S., says the Federal Highway Administration. The state senate must approve Hall’s elevation when it reconvenes in January. Also at that time, legislators are set to restart the debate on a gas-tax hike, though media reports speculate that an emergency legislative session may take place before then.

The Moles, a New Jersey-based group of heavy-construction professionals working globally, named Thomas J. “Tom” Groark as executive director. He remains vice president of New York operations for Ferreira Construction, Somerville, N.J. Groark also was deputy director of engineering-construction at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. In his new role, Groark succeeds Gerard J. “Gerry” Carty, who becomes executive director emeritus. Carty was in his prior role since 1993. The Moles has about 800 global members.