Akzo Nobel N.V., trading as AkzoNobel, is a Dutchmultinational, active in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 50,000 people. Sales in 2013 were EUR 14.6 billion. Following the acquisition of ICI, the company has restructured in 2 January 2008, and rebranded itself in 25 April of the same year.
AkzoNobel consists of 11 business units, with business responsibility and autonomy. For managerial purpose these cooperate in three groups, which are supported by one managerial board.
Currently, a seven member-strong Executive Committee (ExCo) was established, which is composed of two members of the Board of Management (BoM) and five leaders with functional expertise, allowing both the functions and the business areas to be represented at the highest levels in the company.
The ExCo includes Chairman and CEO Ton Büchner, CFO Keith Nichols, Marten Booisma (responsible for Human Resources), Sven Dumoulin (General Counsel), Werner Fuhrmann (responsible for Specialty Chemicals), Ruud Joosten (responsible for Decorative Paints) and Conrad Keijzer (responsible for Performance Coatings). The board holds office in Amsterdam. Prior to August 2007, the Executive Committee was headquartered in Arnhem.
Due to high revenues from the sales of its pharmaceutical business, AkzoNobel was the world’s most profitable company in 2008.
Community Program, Akzo Nobel Donates Under 501c3…..
AkzoNobel may be a huge organization – but we’re still made up of people. And many of them want to do more to make a difference to the world around us. That’s why we started the AkzoNobel Community Program: to encourage employees to get involved in their local areas, and give them what they need to do it.
We’re as committed to our communities as we are to our customers, shareholders and employees. That’s why we launched a worldwide initiative in 2005 called the AkzoNobel Community Program. It brings together motivated employees from all over the world and gives them the means to make a real difference.
So far, over 11,000 volunteers from more than 50 countries have worked on over 2,200 projects. In the past eight years this has led to a great variety of projects; from educating and supporting underprivileged groups –often impacted by the economic crisis – to contributing to creating more awareness in the community about the importance of a clean environment. It also provides opportunities for employees to develop team building and leadership skills. Throughout the world, our Community Program projects have brought value, much-needed assistance and a sense of excitement to their communities.
Every year we hold a competition to find the best contribution. First prize in 2013 went to the ‘Volunteer horse power provides equine therapy for poor disabled people’ project, an initiative by Pulp and Performance Chemicals in Jundiaí, Brazil. It’s widely accepted now that therapies involving horses and riding can be hugely beneficial to those with mental and physical disabilities. Equine center Equovita was already helping some local children but, thanks to a dedicated group of colleagues who helped repair three riding arenas, it’s now able to offer support to even more. Therapy sessions are given free of charge for a year. Work was scheduled to take place over four Saturdays – but with 64 volunteers involved, it was finished in just two!
