AkzoNobel to gain new CFO in 2026

Paints and coating manufacturer, AkzoNobel, has announced that Fredrik Westin will become the company’s new chief financial officer (CFO) as of 1 January 2026. He will succeed Maarten de Vries, who is completing his second four-year term as CFO and member of the board of management, as part of a structured succession process.

Westin (52) is a Swedish national with more than 25 years of international experience in the industrial and automotive sectors. He has a track record of delivering value by fostering a culture of performance, simplifying organisations, improving operational efficiency and aligning closely with customer needs.

Since May 2020, he has been the CFO and executive vice-president at Autoliv, an automotive safety leader listed in both the US and Europe. Fredrik previously held CFO roles at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, and at Johnson Controls.

“Fredrik is a seasoned financial leader with a proven track record of enhancing profitability, even in challenging markets,” said Ben Noteboom, chair of AkzoNobel’s supervisory board. “His experience and insights will play an important role in driving operational efficiency and fostering sustainable growth across the organisation. I look forward to having him on board.”

Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO of AkzoNobel, added: “Maarten has been instrumental in reshaping AkzoNobel into a focused and high-performing paints and coatings company. He’s reinvented our finance function and implemented world class systems which have transformed AkzoNobel into a data-driven organisation. His dedication, leadership and focus on value creation are recognised by all and will continue to fuel our company for the rest of his tenure. Fredrik is the perfect successor to deliver our mid-term targets and take the company to the next level of performance.”

Commenting on his appointment, Westin said: “I’m honoured to join AkzoNobel, a great company with a clear strategy. I’m eager to work with Greg and the executive team to accelerate our transformation and help strengthen our performance.”

Following Westin’s appointment as CFO, his nomination to AkzoNobel’s board of management will be subject to shareholder approval. Maarten de Vries will remain a member of the board of management to complete the handover, until he retires from AkzoNobel at the end of his second term in April 2026.