AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - AkzoNobel has appointed Maëlys Castella to be the company's new Chief Financial Officer. She will officially take up the position on September 15.

Castella succeeds Keith Nichols, who announced his intention to leave AkzoNobel on January 15, 2014. She has worked at Air Liquide for the last 14 years, most recently as Group Deputy CFO. Her previous posts there include Europe Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Finance and Treasury Director.

She will be nominated for appointment to AkzoNobel's Board of Management and will be based at the company's head office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Ton Büchner will take over CFO responsibilities in the brief transition period between Keith Nichols' departure and Maëlys Castella's start date.