AkzoNobel Appoints New UK Managing Director

AkzoNobel has appointed a new Managing Director for Decorative Paints United Kingdom & Ireland. Alistair McAuley, Managing Director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints UK & Ireland and UK Country Director, will leave the business at the end of December 2020, to be succeeded by José Antonio Jiménez.

Alistair joined the company 20 years ago through the acquisition of his family decorators’ merchant and has since carried out roles across operations, marketing, sales and since 2018 has been Managing Director for the UK & Ireland Business. 

José Antonio joined AkzoNobel in 2003 from Nestlé, looking after the do-it-yourself business in Spain. In 2010, he became Business Lead for Decorative Paints Spain, where he successfully led the business through the economic crisis. In 2018, José Antonio took the role of Sales Director in the BU EMEA management team where he has driven improvements across our stores network, the efficiency of our sales forces and has overseen the continued growth of the international accounts in the region.

Alistair says, “It’s been an amazing 20-year journey and a real privilege to develop and successfully execute our ambitious 2020 strategy despite the current challenging conditions.   I feel incredibly proud to have been the custodian of such iconic brands, including Dulux.  I’ve grown up with many of our customers who are so deeply loyal to our business and I am immensely grateful for their support and friendship. More than that, though, I want to thank the incredible team of people, who I feel so proud to have worked alongside during my time with the business. It gives me great pleasure to pass the shirt, that is the UK & Ireland business, to José Antonio Jiménez and wish him every success.”

José Antonio says, “I feel honoured to have the opportunity to lead the UK & Ireland business, with its legacy of iconic brands and great people, to progress the performance of recent years. Alistair has been instrumental in building a solid platform for the future. I am excited about picking up the UK & Ireland shirt from Alistair and developing – with the commitment of our colleagues and the ongoing engagement of our customers and consumers – our brands in such an important market for AkzoNobel.”

Source: Insight DIY Team & Akzo Nobel

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