Following the recent announcements of plans to divest both its Building Adhesives business and Decorative Paints stores in Germany, AkzoNobel has informed employees of its intention to streamline its organizational structure in the country. The proposals involve reducing the number of office locations from eight to three by the summer of 2014. The three offices will be based in Cologne, Hamburg and Stuttgart. 

“By bringing office-based management and supporting staff together in fewer locations and better aligning them with the needs of our businesses in Germany, we aim to improve our operational effectiveness as well as lowering overheads,” said Werner Fuhrmann, Executive Committee member.

Currently, office employees working for different business units and the country organization are based in eight office locations spread across Germany, due to various mergers and acquisitions that have occurred over the years. AkzoNobel’s main offices in Germany will be sited at a new location in Cologne, providing workspace for around 250 people. Sales offices in the north and south of the country will be consolidated in Hamburg and Stuttgart.

When completed, these developments are expected to reduce more than 25% of the total number of personnel employed by AkzoNobel in Germany, to approximately 2,600.

For more information visit www.akzonobel.com.