Colin J. Gillis, a respected manufacturing leader and lifelong champion of plant operations, has passed away after a battle with cancer.

Mr. Gillis devoted more than four decades to Ball Corporation, beginning his career on the plant floor and rising to the company’s most senior leadership roles while never losing his deep connection to manufacturing operations.

He joined Ball in 1973 at the Metal Food Container Plant in Montreal, Quebec, where he served in roles including parts clerk, production scheduler, and production supervisor. From there, his career followed a steady progression through increasingly responsible operational leadership positions across North America and around the world.

His early roles included Plant Superintendent at Ball’s Montreal facility (1977–1981), Press and Shipping Supervisor in Simcoe, Ontario (1981–1984), and Department Supervisor of Packaging and Shipping in Montreal (1984–1987). He later served as Production Planning Manager (1987–1990) and Administrative Manager (1990–1994).

Mr. Gillis spent eight years as Plant Manager in Whitby, Ontario (1994–2002), followed by plant manager roles in Wallkill, New York (2002–2005) and Golden, Colorado (2005–2007), where he built a reputation as a leader deeply respected on the plant floor.

His career expanded internationally when he became Vice President of Operations, Ball Asia Pacific Limited (2007–2008), followed by President of Ball Asia Pacific Limited (2008–2010). He later served as President of Latapack-Ball in São Paulo, Brazil from 2010 to 2012.

From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Gillis served as President of Ball Packaging Europe, based in Zurich, Switzerland, and as a member of the organization’s management board. He went on to serve as President of Beverage Packaging Europe, based in London, from 2016 to 2019, overseeing operations across the region.

In July 2019, Mr. Gillis was appointed President of Beverage Packaging North and Central America, Ball’s largest operating region, a role he held until December 2021. In that position, he oversaw the company’s core beverage packaging business and served in senior leadership and board-level capacities, bringing his plant-first philosophy to the highest levels of the organization.

Mr. Gillis earned a Commerce Degree in Management from Concordia University in 1976 and attended Dawson College in Montreal from 1971 to 1973.

Those who worked with him remember a leader who never forgot where he started, who listened carefully, spoke plainly, and remained a champion of the plant floor until the end.

Despite holding senior executive titles, Mr. Gillis remained, at heart, a plant leader.

“Colin was never happier than when he was in a plant,” said Scott McCarty, former Director of Strategic Communications at Ball and a longtime friend and colleague. “I don’t think he especially liked being president. He loved being in Ball’s plants.”

McCarty recalled watching Mr. Gillis walk into unfamiliar facilities and diagnose mechanical problems simply by listening.

“I had never seen someone walk into a plant for the first time and, just by listening to the machinery, identify which high-speed machine had an issue and what it likely was,” McCarty said. “Colin did that—multiple times.”

Mr. Gillis was widely known for his fierce advocacy for manufacturing operations.

“He always believed the plants should never be indentured servants,” McCarty said. “He once told a team that as plant manager he had the least important job in the plant—his role was to set the vision, provide the tools for success, and then get out of the way.”

That philosophy defined his leadership style and earned him lasting respect across Ball’s global operations.

Mr. Gillis was also known for his blunt honesty.

“Colin didn’t sugarcoat,” McCarty said. “He once shocked a plant leadership team by bluntly telling them they could do better. He wasn’t being cruel—he believed people were capable of excellence and wanted them to see it too.”

Colin Gillis will be remembered as a plant man at heart, a principled leader, and a lasting influence on Ball Corporation and the many people who had the privilege to work with him.

(Image credit Ball Corp)