The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) is proud to announce that Eugenio Martínez Serna, President and General Director of Grupo Daltile, has been named the 2026 TCNA Tile Person of the Year. This prestigious recognition honors Martínez’s more than four decades of leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing the ceramic tile industry in North America.
“Eugenio exemplifies the very best of our industry,” said TCNA Executive Director Eric Astrachan. “His leadership has not only driven the success of Grupo Daltile but has also strengthened the entire tile community through his commitment to collaboration, standards development, and mentoring future leaders. Honoring him with this award recognizes a career defined by resilience, vision, and a genuine dedication to people.”
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Martínez began his career after earning a degree in chemical engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, followed by a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering at Georgia Tech and completion of the senior management program at IPADE Business School. Since joining the Daltile organization in 1985, he has played a pivotal role in shaping its growth and long-term success.
Martínez was appointed General Director of Daltile Mexico in 1995 and later became President and General Director in 2006. Under his leadership, the company has expanded significantly, culminating in the 2023 integration of Daltile and Vitromex to form Grupo Daltile—now one of the largest ceramic tile manufacturers in Mexico, with more than 5,000 associates, eight manufacturing plants, and an annual production capacity of 66 million square meters.
Throughout his career, Martínez has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to operational excellence and resilience. Notably, he led the rapid recovery of operations following Hurricane Alex in 2010, restoring full production in less than three months—an achievement that underscored his leadership philosophy and the strength of his team.
A strong advocate for innovation and design, Martínez championed the opening of the Daltile Gallery on the iconic Masaryk Avenue in Mexico City in 2022 to help meet the needs of the architect and design community.
Martínez has also made significant contributions to the broader industry through his long-standing involvement with TCNA. A board member since 2005, he supported the organization’s transition from the Tile Council of America to Tile Council of North America and establishment of TCNA–Mexico. He also contributed to the development of installation standards, installer training programs, the TCNA–Mexico testing laboratory, and the creation of the Obra Blanca tradeshow, for which he serves as a board member.
Beyond his corporate and industry achievements, Martínez is widely recognized for his people-first leadership philosophy. He has fostered a culture rooted in integrity, empathy, and continuous improvement, mentoring generations of leaders and supporting programs that have positively impacted thousands of families.
“My professional success has been built on assembling a group of collaborators more capable and intelligent than I am, so that together, we can forge a shared vision,” he said.
TCNA recognizes Martínez not only for his business accomplishments but also for his enduring legacy of human-centered leadership and commitment to building a stronger, more unified North American tile industry.
The award presented to Martínez at Coverings 2026 in Las Vegas was a beautiful, framed tile mural handcrafted by artist Barry Perez of Elgin, Texas.
About Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
Tile Council of North America (TCNA) is a trade association representing manufacturers of ceramic tile, tile installation materials, tile equipment, raw materials, and other tile-related products. Established in 1945 as the Tile Council of America (TCA), it became TCNA in 2005, reflecting its membership expansion to all of North America. TCNA is recognized for its leadership role in facilitating the development of North American and international industry quality standards to benefit tile consumers. Additionally, TCNA regularly conducts independent research and product testing, works with regulatory, trade, and other government agencies, and publishes installation guidelines, tile standards, economic reports, and promotional literature.
 awarded Eugenio Martínez Serna, President and General Director of Grupo Daltile, the 2026 TCNA Tile Person of the Year.){kind=link}