Reporting its half-year results, Akzo has announced a new structure for its executive committee, promoting head of decorative paints Ruud Joosten as chief operating officer.

The changes have been made, with a view to driving “operational excellence, increase customer focus, and build further momentum and speed into the organisation”, said the Dutch company, which owns the Dulux, Hammerite, Cuprinol and Sikkens brands..

It has been revealed that, in the new executive committee the following roles will continue:

Chief executive officer (Thierry Vanlancker)

Chief financial officer (Maëlys Castella)

General counsel (Sven Dumoulin)

Chief human resources Officer (Marten Booisma)

Changes to the executive committee following the new set-up are:

Chief operating officer (Ruud Joosten, former head of Decorative Paints)

Integrated supply chain leader (David Allen, elevated to Executive Committee)

In addition, Werner Fuhrmann will return to Akzo Nobel in the role of head of Specialty Chemicals, replacing Thierry Vanlancker, who was named CEO last week following the departure of Ton Büchner.

Effective immediately, Ruud Joosten has been named chief operating officer (COO) Paints & Coatings. Working closely with CEO Thierry Vanlancker, the COO will lead the Performance Coatings and Decorative Paints businesses. He will be responsible for accelerating growth, the execution of the company's strategy, and the performance to deliver on the agreed targets.

In addition, the direct responsibility for the Paints & Coatings operations, including all manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, site management, health & safety (HSE&S), and procurement, will now fall under the responsibility of the integrated supply chain leader, David Allen.

CEO Thierry Vanlancker commented: “We aim to build on the successful foundation of operational excellence that Akzo Nobel has laid over the past years. With Ruud Joosten stepping up as our new COO and David Allen joining our executive committee in the role of integrated supply chain leader, this new executive committee will be faster to drive integrated business planning and quick decision making. It will also enable optimal alignment between business needs and operational and supply chain delivery.

"I am also delighted to welcome Werner Fuhrmann back to head up Specialty Chemicals and lead on the separation. His unique knowledge of the company and industry experience, having worked for almost 40 years at Akzo Nobel, including running the Specialty Chemicals Business prior to my joining last year, make him an ideal person to lead the separation. It's great to have him back on board."

The supervisory board has designated Mr Vanlancker as CEO/Chairman of the Board of Management, with full power and authority as a member of the board of management, in accordance with the articles of association of Akzo Nobel N.V. which provides for such designation until formal CEO appointment by shareholders.