Hans Wijers to Leave AkzoNobel in 2012

AkzoNobel has announced that CEO Hans Wijers will be stepping down with effect from the company's annual general meeting (AGM) in 2012. Sulzer President and CEO Ton Büchner is slated to take over the helm of the Dutch company, pending AGM approval.

Wijers joined AkzoNobel as member of the board of management in October 2002, and was subsequently appointed CEO in May 2003. The company credits him with having improved its pharma business, focusing its chemicals businesses and successfully growing the coatings business.  

Büchner  has been CEO of Sulzer since 2007. He joined Sulzer in 1994 and has held a number of operational and leadership roles across the company including the presidencies of two of its divisions, Sulzer Turbomachinery Services and Sulzer Pumps. He was also chief representative and responsible for Sulzer operations in China. He will join AkzoNobel in January.