AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings’ Mee Lin Yang, steps down from her role on 31 March as product manager FCG Packaging APAC, to retire following more than 30 years at the company.

AkzoNobel has appointed Kanok-Orn Saengsuwan as her successor.

Mee Lin first joined AkzoNobel in 1991 as a Lab Chemist in the Development Lab where she worked on several business units, including Industrial Coatings, Coil Coatings, High Performance Coatings and Packaging Coatings.

Since then, she has earned a series of promotions, becoming a technical manager, then a regional technical service manager and subsequently the product manager for the marketing department.

Reflecting on her long career at AkzoNobel, Yang said: “Back in my day, living in a developing country like Malaysia, joining a multi-national company like AkzoNobel was a big deal. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 30 years of experience working at an organisation that is paving the future of the industry.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with talented colleagues and experiencing a varied career that has allowed me to build relationships with customers and industry players. While I would love to continue my career at AkzoNobel, I am stepping down to spend some quality time with my family before my children start to leave the nest,” she said.

“I will certainly miss working with so many amazing colleagues, although I fully intend to keep in touch with them and closely follow developments at AkzoNobel, which will no doubt continue to innovate and evolve.”

Thanking Yang for her decades of service to the company, Jim Kavanagh Industrial Coatings managing director said: “Throughout her time at AkzoNobel, Mee Lin took the initiative to improve the range and quality of our products, successfully developed and executed business strategies, all while being an excellent team leader and mentor.

“She is an eminent and valued employee at AkzoNobel and will be missed by colleagues in Malaysia and across our global offices more widely. We wish her a long and happy retirement.

“We’re delighted to welcome Kanok-Orn Saengsuwan to AkzoNobel and look forward to the new perspective she will bring to the role.”