Wall cladding and plasterboard group James Hardie has hired the boss of a big aerosols manufacturer in the United States to fill the role of chief executive which has been vacant for eight months after Jack Truong was dumped over bullying allegations.

The company announced on Friday that Aaron Erter will be starting immediately as chief executive. Mr Erter, who is aged 49, for the past two years has been the chief executive of PLZ Corp, a manufacturer of aerosols and specialty liquids and before that was a senior executive with paint maker Sherwin Williams. The Australian paint business Wattyl is part of the Sherwin Williams stable and has given Mr Erter a solid grounding in the Australian housing and construction sector.