Tell us about your business and what others should know about your company.
AkzoNobel is a global industry leader in paints and coatings. Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative products that help protect what matters most. Our product lines range from powder coatings to liquid & film coatings, protective coatings, marine and automotive finishes, and wood coatings. Our world-class brands include International, Interpon, Sikkens, Awlgrip, Interlux, Chemcraft, Lesonal, Dulux, and many others.
AkzoNobel’s global headquarters are in the Netherlands; our business operations for North America are managed from Nashville. We’re active in more than 130 countries and employ more than 34,000 people worldwide.
As experts in making coatings, we use our expertise to sustain and enhance everyday life. Chances are you’re only ever a few feet from one of our products. We believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing more sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.
Tell us about the industry in which your company operates.
We sit at the intersection of industrial coatings, performance coatings, specialty chemicals, decorative paints, and sustainable materials. The industry is high‐volume but also increasingly demanding – for durability, for performance, for environmental impact.
Customers in automotive, aerospace, marine, metal fabrication, wood industries, architectural/exterior markets, among others, are expecting coatings that do more: resist corrosion, reduce maintenance, lower environmental footprints, be safer, and integrate digitally (e.g. data and supply chain traceability).
In addition, sustainability regulations, energy cost pressures, and expectations around ESG (environmental, social, governance) are shaping how coatings are developed, manufactured, and applied. Innovation, quality, compliance, and speed to market are critical.
What is unique about your company that helps you differentiate yourself?
A few distinguishing strengths for AkzoNobel include:
• Long heritage and global scale: Over two centuries in coatings means deep technical know-how, trusted brands, and proven reliability.
• Strong R&D and innovation pipeline: We invest heavily in research and development, with multiple labs across North America to test and bring products rapidly from concept to market; for example, our R&D center in High Point, NC, for wood coatings.
• Sustainability leadership: From creating more durable coatings to lowering carbon emissions (including renewable energy usage in sites), reducing environmental footprint, ensuring health & safety and ensuring compliance with modern human rights standards.
• Broad portfolio and flexibility: We serve many segments – in North America, we focus on high-performance coatings for industrial, architectural, automative, marine and other uses – and can adapt (small batches, custom colors, fast service) as well as produce at scale.
• Commitment to people and culture: We promote diversity, equity & inclusion; uphold high standards of safety; foster innovation; and emphasize ethical, community-oriented behavior.
Why is the Nashville region a good place for your business?
There are several reasons why the Nashville region works well for AkzoNobel:
• Regional headquarters location: AkzoNobel’s North America headquarters is based in Nashville, giving us a central base for administration, logistics, supply chain, and leadership.
• Skilled workforce and infrastructure: The region offers access to a talent pool, with labor, transport, utilities, and business services that support manufacturing and innovation.
• Business environment and cost advantages: Nashville offers competitive costs (real estate, taxes, wages), supportive local government, and community engagement. Plus, quality of life helps attract and retain employees.
How does your company ensure a safe, efficient, and positive culture for your workforce?
Here are key ways AkzoNobel maintains and fosters a workplace where safety, efficiency, and positivity are priorities:
• Safety culture and programs: We have rigorous health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards. Employee safety is non-negotiable. Employees are empowered to stop work if something is unsafe. We track safety performance (including site safety maturity scores), conduct regular audits, behavior-based safety programs, and continuous improvement toward zero injuries.
• Working conditions and ethical standards: We ensure decent working hours, fair compensation, humane and dignified conditions. We explicitly prohibit discrimination and harassment. We have grievance mechanisms (e.g., “SpeakUp!”) and transparency programs.
• Continuous improvement and operational excellence: We invest in technology, digital tools, data analytics in manufacturing, pilot plants to refine processes, efficiency, and quality. This ensures not only that we are competitive, but that our work is well-structured, reduces waste, and empowers those on the factory floor.
• Employee development and inclusion: Training, enabling growth, promoting diversity and inclusion, creating an environment where everyone feels valued.
• Sustainability and environmental stewardship: In materials, energy use, emissions, etc. A safe, efficient workplace is also one with minimal environmental risk, healthy working environments, and respect for communities.