Nico Del Monaco inherited a roofing business already at the top of its market—now he's focused on keeping it there.

Del Monaco was appointed president of Owens Corning's Roofing business in 2025, succeeding Gunner Smith. He came to the role with 25 years of experience at the company, most recently leading the Insulation division, where he expanded capacity across multiple product lines and strengthened the business's market position. Before that, he ran Owens Corning's European operations, overseeing both insulation and nonwovens products—experience that gave him a cross-divisional perspective on the company's building products portfolio.

Now leading roofing operations, Del Monaco is pursuing a dual strategy: expanding manufacturing capacity in high-growth regions while equipping contractors with digital tools that streamline operations. That includes the Prattville, Ala., shingle plant—a strategic expansion into the Southeast, the nation's largest asphalt shingle market—and continued investment in the Owens Corning Tech Stack, the company's integrated digital platform for contractors.

In this Q&A, Del Monaco discusses his first-year priorities and how he's positioning the roofing business for sustained competitive advantage.

What are you most excited about in your new role as president of Owens Corning’s Roofing business?

Del Monaco: As I have immersed myself in the Roofing business and industry, I have been so impressed by the talent and dedication of our team and the network of contractors who we partner with. We continue to invest in our business, product development, and the services and partnerships that contractors need to grow their businesses. I’m really excited to meet more of our customers and learn how we can continue to innovate to help them win in a competitive marketplace.

What will success look like in your first year?

Del Monaco: For me, success will be measured by our ability to deliver the highest quality roofing and component solutions, while also helping our customers grow their businesses – with a continued focus on safety.

What synergies do you see between the roofing and insulation divisions?

Del Monaco: As a building products leader, we leverage enterprise-scale capabilities that make up our unique OC Advantage™ across both Roofing and Insulation, including our iconic brand and commercial strength. These businesses are naturally linked by a shared purpose in maintaining a home’s durability, performance, and comfort. In addition to shared material science in our products, our Roofing and Insulation manufacturing teams also use similar operational excellence models to drive continuous improvement, safety, and advanced manufacturing processes to best support our customers.

Drawing from your operations background, what are your immediate priorities for improving roofing's manufacturing footprint?

Del Monaco: In manufacturing, our priorities have been unlocking efficiencies and creating network flexibility through ongoing debottlenecking efforts and strategic investment to service our growing contractor network. Last year, we announced our strategic investment in Prattville, Alabama, where we are building a new shingle plant in the Southeast, the largest asphalt shingle region in the country. I also want to commend and thank our teams for their collaboration and unconditional commitment to safety as they produce the high-quality products that our customers rely on.

When will contractors begin to see the benefit of Prattville shingle plant?

Del Monaco: Construction on this 250,000-square-foot plant will start early this year. The plant will feature leading technology and have the capacity to produce approximately 6 million squares of laminate shingles annually, enhancing service across our network.

How do you plan to leverage technology and automation to enhance production efficiency?

Del Monaco: Digital solutions will continue play a transformative role in the roofing business by empowering contractors to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Through the Owens Corning Tech Stack—an award-winning, integrated suite of tools—we enable contractors to streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, and scale their businesses with confidence. These solutions provide real-time insights from data, giving contractors greater visibility into performance and helping them make informed decisions on the spot. From lead generation and project visualization to workflow management and customer communication, the Tech Stack simplifies complex processes and reduces friction, allowing contractors to focus on delivering exceptional service. With this solution, we help contractors solve problems quicker, stay aligned with goals, and adapt to changing market conditions—ultimately driving growth and profitability in a competitive environment.

Which emerging market roofing opportunities and/or innovations are you most excited about?

Del Monaco: Continued product innovation is at the core of Owens Corning’s strategy to meet evolving customer needs. We are committed to developing roofing solutions that deliver superior performance, durability, and aesthetics, while addressing key market trends such as sustainability and energy efficiency.

How do you expect OC’s relationships with contractors and distributors to evolve over the next few years?

Del Monaco: Over the next 3–5 years, we envision deeper, more digitally enabled partnerships with contractors and distributors. This means: Digital Integration: Tools like the Owens Corning Tech Stack will make interactions more seamless—helping contractors manage leads, visualize projects, and track performance in real time. Expect more virtual training, on-demand resources, and digital platforms that make it easier for contractors and distributors to access Owens Corning expertise anytime, anywhere.