Jim Gentilcore to Succeed Michael R. Boyce as Chairman of PQ Group Holdings Inc.

MALVERN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PQ Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PQG) (“PQ” or the “Company”), an integrated
global provider of catalysts, specialty materials and chemicals, and
services, announced that Michael R. Boyce has retired from his position
as the Company’s Chairman of the Board and is succeeded by Jim
Gentilcore, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer since
2016.

Mr. Boyce has been invaluable to the growth, development and success of
PQ since joining as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2005. During
his tenure of leadership, PQ achieved tremendous revenue and profit
growth and greatly expanded its global business strategy. Mr. Boyce led
the Company through its transformational merger with INEOS Silicas and
nurtured the Company’s entry into the catalyst business, including
through its partnership with Royal Dutch Shell. Mr. Boyce fostered a
strong culture of safety, ethics, performance, accountability and
customer focus that enabled the development of the Company’s strong
track record of results and continues to drive PQ’s operating discipline
and its growth trajectory. Mr. Boyce stepped down as CEO of PQ in 2015
but has remained as Chairman of the Board since then.

Mr. Gentilcore commented, “Across our organization, we have tremendous
gratitude and appreciation for Mike’s service to the Company. I
personally will always be deeply thankful to Mike for his thoughtful
counsel and support. Mike’s unwavering determination and dedication
created the opportunities for growth that will be PQ’s foundation for
value-creation long into the future. His many contributions have enabled
PQ to evolve and to become a vibrant, dynamic and now public company,
prepared well for the future.”

“My time at PQ has been the highlight of my career, but I leave the
Company knowing that it is in good hands under Jim Gentilcore’s
leadership,” Mr. Boyce said. “PQ has highly skilled and dedicated
employees, management and board members, and I have great confidence
that the Company will continue to grow well into the future.”

Mr. Boyce received an undergraduate degree from West Virginia State
University before pursuing post-graduate business studies at the
University of Houston and through Harvard University's Advanced
Management Program. After starting his career at Union Carbide, Mr.
Boyce held a variety of leadership positions with Sylvachem, General
Chemical, Catalyst Resources, Inc., Harris Chemical Group, Penrice Soda
Products Pty. Ltd. and Peak Investments, LLC. He is also is a Director
of AAR Corp. and Stepan Company.

About PQ Group Holdings Inc.

PQ Group Holdings Inc. is an integrated global provider of catalysts,
specialty materials and chemicals, and services. Our environmental
catalysts and services business is a leading global innovator and
producer of catalysts for the refinery, emissions control, and
petrochemical industries and is also a leading provider of catalyst
recycling services to the North American refining industry. Our
performance materials and chemicals business is a silicates and
specialty materials producer with leading supply positions for the
majority of our products sold in North America, Europe, South America,
Australia and Asia serving diverse and growing end uses such as personal
and industrial cleaning products, fuel efficient tires, surface
coatings, and food and beverage products.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements.
Such statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other
factors which could cause actual results to differ materially.

Contacts

Investor:
ICR
Michael Callahan, 203-682-8311
[email protected]