ARNHEM, The Netherlands - Akzo Nobel announced that Bill McPherson, general manager of the company's Powder Coatings business unit, will be appointed general manager of the Marine & Protective Coatings business unit. He will succeed Leif Darner, who is slated to join the company's Board of Management, pending approval at the company's annual shareholders meeting on April 22.

Rob Molenaar, general manager, Car Refinishes North America, will succeed McPherson as general manager of the Powder Coatings business unit. Both appointments are effective May 1.

McPherson started his career in a research position with Courtaulds in 1970, held various management positions with the Courtaulds Fibre Division, and was appointed CEO of Courtaulds Chemicals in 1991. He later was named CEO of Courtaulds Coatings Asia Pacific. Courtaulds was acquired by Akzo Nobel in 1998, and in 2001 McPherson was named to lead the company's newly created Powder Coatings business unit.