Paints and performance coatings company AkzoNobel has named Van Ngo (pictured) head of brand – decorative paints, Vietnam. In her new role, she leads the brand team to create and execute marketing and branding strategy to drive achievement of country business growth as a part of the overall regional marketing strategy. Ngo replaces Nguyen Cong Hai, former head of marketing, decorative paints, who left in May this year.

She joined the company as senior brand manager in August 2018 and was responsible for the premium interior and mass decorative paints category. According to AkzoNobel, her decision to join the company came as part of her ambition to explore a new industry after working 14 years of working in the tech industry. During her time as senior brand manager, she successfully launched two core new products recently – Dulux Ambiance 5in1 Superflexx, Dulux Super Premium Interior SuperSealer and Dulux EasyClean Stain Repellent.

Prior to joining AkzoNobel, she was with Lenovo Mobile Business Group and Motorola Mobility, with her last role being regional marketing head for Vietnam, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. In this role, Ngo oversaw the management in marketing communication, retail marketing and involved in sales strategy developing with country heads in cluster. She joined the company in 2016 as marketing head of Vietnam, managing the combination marketing communications and product marketing roles within the Vietnam country for both Lenovo and Motorola smartphone brands at the same time. This was in a bid to drive appropriate brand and product positioning consistent with the global guidelines, as well as marketing communications executions both above and below the line, and ensuring strong brand presence.

From 2005 to 2015, Ngo worked in marketing communications for three core business units under LG Electronics Vietnam – home entertainment, home appliances and mobile devices. Her last role with the company was mobile devices communication manager.

Separately, AkzoNobel said the launch of its new range of premium interior paints affirms its leading position in Vietnam’s premium paint segment. According to the company, it spends an average of US$280 million a year in research and development, to develop innovative solutions with advanced technologies for consumers worldwide.

General director of AkzoNobel Vietnam Paint Company Pamela Phua said: “At AkzoNobel, consumers are one of our top priorities and meeting their needs is the core of our business. We have thoroughly researched the insights of consumers with the aim of offering effective paint solutions that are not only optimized for the Vietnamese climate but also exceed consumers’ expectations.”

(Read also: Paints company AkzoNobel sees 3 senior exits in SEA)