COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) announced today that Dean P. Freeman has been hired to be Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GCP Applied Technologies Inc., the public company expected to be formed by a spin-off in early 2016 of Grace’s Construction Products segment and its Darex Packaging Technologies business. Upon the split, Freeman will lead GCP’s global finance and information technology teams. He will report to Gregory E. Poling, GCP’s designated President and Chief Executive Officer, and serve as a member of the new company’s leadership team. He will be located at the company’s global headquarters in Cambridge, MA.

Previously, Freeman was with Watts Water Technologies (NYSE: WTS) in Andover, MA, where he was interim President and Chief Executive Officer after serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Freeman also held senior finance and treasurer roles with Flowserve Corporation and with The Stanley Works Corporation. Prior roles included financial executive and management positions with United Technologies Corporation and SPX Corporation.

“Dean brings strong public company experience along with deep knowledge of how to create value for shareholders and provide world class service for customers,” said Poling. “I know Dean has the talent and energy to sustain our track record of strong margins and cash flow as we work together to grow our business.”

GCP Applied Technologies will have customers in more than 110 countries, operations on six continents, and a team of 2,500 employees. Through applied knowledge and service excellence, GCP will provide premier specialty construction chemicals and specialty building materials for many of the world’s most renowned structures, and packaging technologies for the best-known consumer brands.