AkzoNobel has announced that Maelys Castella, Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Management will step down ‘for health reasons’. Castella is currently on a leave of absence.

Castella is the second top executive to step down on health grounds in the space of two months; CEO Ton Buchner relinquished his role in mid-July.

“It is with regret that today we have to announce Maelys is now on a leave of absence due to health reasons. We wish her well and look forward to welcoming her back once she has fully recovered,” said Antony Burgmnas, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Castella is expected to return to the company ‘in a senior management role’ after her anticipated recovery. Current Group Controller Hans De Vriese has been announced as interim CFO while the company recruits a permanent replacement.