September 2, 2014 – 3M has named Jose Varela vice president and general manager of its personal safety division, where he will oversee the company’s global safety business and more than 40 major platforms, including respiratory protection, hearing protection, fall protection, protective eyewear, head and face protection, and reflective materials.

Varela previously served as managing director of 3M Brazil. He also brings a wealth of experience and global business leadership due to his roles in finance, sales, operational planning and supply-chain management for 3M’s operations in Canada, APAC and Latin America, said the company.

“We’re excited to see the commitment that safety managers from around the world are making to improving worker safety,” he said. “In my new role, I look forward to leveraging 3M’s decades of safety experience and its entrepreneurial spirit to create a safer world.”