It is announced today that Mr. Maarten van den Bergh, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, has informed the Board of Management that he wishes to resign from both being Chairman, and as a member, of the Supervisory Board of AkzoNobel. This is due to temporary ill health following an accident. Mr. van den Bergh's resignation takes place with immediate effect.
Mr. van den Bergh has been heavily involved in the transformation process of the past years, where his significant experience and wise counsel has been of great importance to the Board of Management. The company wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for his invaluable contribution during these historic years.
It will be proposed to the shareholders that Mr. Karel Vuursteen will be appointed as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Mr. Vuursteen was appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board of AkzoNobel in 2002, followed by his appointment as Deputy Chairman in 2006. Mr. Vuursteen brings a wealth of international business experience, and inside knowledge of AkzoNobel, to his proposed position as Chairman. Mr Vuursteen is a former CEO of Heineken and is also a member of the Supervisory Boards of ING Group, TOMTOM N.V. and Henkel AG.
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AkzoNobel is proud to be one of the world's leading industrial companies. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we make and supply a wide range of paints, coatings and specialty chemicals - 2008 revenue totaled €15.4 billion. In fact, we are the largest global paints and coatings company. As a major producer of specialty chemicals we supply industries worldwide with quality ingredients for life's essentials. We think about the future, but act in the present. We're passionate about introducing new ideas and developing sustainable answers for our customers. That's why our 60,000 employees - who are based in more than 80 countries - are committed to excellence and delivering Tomorrow's Answers Today(TM).
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