Akzo Nobel relocating its chelates HQ to China

AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals (Amersfoort, Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) is relocating the headquarters of its chelates business from the Netherlands to China. The move has been prompted by the growing importance of the Asian market. “It is extremely important for us to be in close proximity to our customers in China and the Asia Pacific region,” explains Functional Chemicals general manager Bob Margevich. “This move will allow us to fully support AkzoNobel’s commitment to expanding its global specialty chemicals activities. The worldwide scale of our activities also underlines our commitment to focusing on the needs of our customers, wherever they may be.” Currently based in Amersfoort, the chelates business will move its head office to Shanghai during the summer. Chelates general manager Geert Hofman and controller Prasanta Dutt will also relocate to China during the course of the year, with Hoffman taking on the additional role of Functional Chemicals’ administrative representative for Asia Pacific. Hofman added that the move made perfect strategic sense: “Functional Chemicals will be the predominant user of a €250 million grassroots multi-site currently being built in China by AkzoNobel.…